Citizens Advice Witness Service

Active opportunities

Outreach Volunteer

Peterlee   Newton Aycliffe   Durham City  
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Citizens Advice Witness Service Court Volunteer

Peterlee   Newton Aycliffe   Durham City  
View this opportunity

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          name:  'Citizens  Advice  Witness  Service',
          email:  'ws-volunteering@citizensadvice.org.uk',
          type:  'Public  Sector',
          telephone:  '07920  588  863',
          contactPerson:  'Danny  Wood',
          website:
            'https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/support-us/volunteering/volunteer-with-our-witness-service/',
          description:  'Citizens  Advice  -  Witness  Service',
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          jobs:
            [  {  _id:  '1239',
                    name:  'Outreach  Volunteer',
                    shortDescription:
                      'Meet  more  vulnerable  and  intimidated  witnesses  away  from  the  court  environment,  either  at  their  home  if  safe  to  do  so,  or  at  an  agreed  community  venue.  Witnesses  will  include  children  and  young  people,  people  with  learning  disabilities,  and  people  with  mental  health  issues\n\nWe  carry  out  risk  assessments,  provide  training,  and  use  a  ‘call-in’  system  to  keep  volunteers  safe.\n\nOur  volunteers  come  from  a  range  of  backgrounds  and  we  particularly  welcome  applications  from  people  with  physical  or  mental  health  conditions,  and  people  from  Black  Asian  Minority  Ethnic  (BAME)  and  LGBT+  communities.  We  are  committed  to  offering  a  welcoming  and  inclusive  environment  to  witnesses,  staff,  and  volunteers.',
                    created:  2022-02-03T10:30:16.719Z,
                    orgId:  '1405',
                    locations:
                      [  {  _id:  '5b2b5605-9529-47f4-ac1c-38047bbe19b9',
                              name:  'Peterlee'  },
                          {  _id:  'db2bec43-c298-4e80-bbeb-a5a51450975d',
                              name:  'Newton  Aycliffe'  },
                          {  _id:  'fb8f49ef-9a3a-40d6-bdac-f63a2590e544',
                              name:  'Durham  City'  },
                          [length]:  3  ],
                    jobTypes:
                      [  {  _id:  '00387814-94c3-4bd3-8067-fb9e5dc3d9f6',
                              name:  'Advice  &  Guidance',
                              backgroundImage:  '',
                              iconImage:  ''  },
                          {  _id:  '72654bc2-c961-424c-bb8e-a9fb7ab9bdc5',
                              name:  'Victim  Support',
                              backgroundImage:  '',
                              iconImage:  ''  },
                          {  _id:  'c522c03b-5563-498c-acdd-69abc9b01c9c',
                              name:  'Domestic  Violence',
                              backgroundImage:  '',
                              iconImage:  ''  },
                          {  _id:  'f13e6eb6-3904-4fff-86c1-6eff6ad8e267',
                              name:  'Children/Young  People',
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                    active:  true,
                    contactPerson:  'Danny  Wood',
                    contactEmail:  'danny.wood@citizensadvice.org.uk',
                    contactTelephone:  '07920  588  863',
                    address:  'Citizens  Advice  -  Witness  Service,  Durham  Crown  court  ',
                    hours:  'Flexible  ',
                    websiteLink:
                      'https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/support-us/volunteering/volunteering-for-citizens-advice-witness-service/',
                    startDate:  2023-07-07T10:30:16.719Z,
                    endDate:  2024-12-31T10:30:16.719Z,
                    whatYouWillBeDoing:
                      '1)  Make  an  initial  visit  and  assess  the  needs  of  vulnerable  witnesses  in  relation  to  attending  court.  Develop  a  tailored  plan  of  preparation    and  support.\n2)  Make  further  visits,  according  to  their  needs,  to  help  prepare  the  witnesses  and  manage  their  expectations  about  the  process  of  the  trial,  the  verdict  and  the  sentence.\n3)  Invite  the  witness  to  have  a  pre-trial  visit,  liaise  with  the  court  based  staff  to  arrange  the  visit.\n4)  Work  with  court  based  volunteers  in  providing  support  on  the  day,  accompanying  the  witness  into  the  courtroom  when  permitted  and  as  appropriate.\n5)  Ensuring  that  witnesses  continue  to  receive  our  assistance  after  court  if  they  need  it,  for  example:  offering  a  debrief  session    after  the  trial.\n',
                    skillsExperienceAndQualitiesNeeded:
                      'You  don’t  need  specific  qualifications  but  you’ll  need  to:\n1)  Be  friendly,  caring,  supportive  and  empathetic  towards  others.\n2)  Be  non-judgemental  and  impartial.\n3)  Have  good  communication  skills;  both  written  and  verbal,  as  well  as  being  a  good  listener.\n4)  The  ability  to  travel,  use  of  a  personal  car  will  be  required.',
                    otherInfo:
                      'The  commitment  of  an  outreach  volunteer  is  varied  depending  on  the  requirements  of  the  witness  being  supported.  The  role  requires  a  great  deal  of  flexibility,  volunteers  should  do  their  best    to  commit  to  supporting  at  least  one  witness  with  outreach  per  month.',
                    whenAndWhere:
                      'To  Cover  all  of  the  Durham  area  if  needed,  this  can  be  discussed  at  interview.',
                    supportOfferedExpenses:
                      'We  use  an  online  training  course,  alongside  shadowing  staff  and/or  volunteers.    The  full  training  programme  can  take  up  to  12  weeks  to  complete.    We  pay  full  travel  expenses.',
                    volunteerBenefits:
                      'What\'s  in  it  for  you?\n1)  Contribute  to  the  service’s  aims  of  supporting  witnesses.\n2)  Training,  accreditation  and  continued  personal  development  and  support  in  the  role.\n3)  Use  your  skills  and  life  experiences  to  help  others.\n4)  The  chance  to  take  on  additional  internal  roles  such  as  volunteer  mentor.\n5)  Gain  valuable  experience  and  development  of  interpersonal  skills.\n6)  Have  a  positive  impact  in  your  community  and  on  the  lives  of  witnesses  and  their  supporters.\n7)  Reimbursement  of  agreed  expenses.\n',
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                {  _id:  '1485',
                    name:  'Citizens  Advice  Witness  Service  Court  Volunteer',
                    shortDescription:
                      'The  Witness  Service  provides  practical  and  emotional  support  and  information  to  witnesses  so  that  they  feel  valued,  respected  and  informed  and  able  to  give  their  best  evidence  in  court.\n\nThe  role  is  court  based  and  will  involve  providing  support  to  witnesses,  and  their  supporters,  by  explaining  the  court  procedures  and  legal  terminology,  showing  them  around  the  courtroom  before  trial  and  sitting  in  the  courtroom  with  them,  when  permitted.\n\nOur  volunteers  come  from  a  range  of  backgrounds  and  we  particularly  welcome  applications  from  people  with  physical  or  mental  health  conditions,  and  people  from  Black  Asian  Minority  Ethnic  (BAME)  and  LGBT+  communities.  We  are  committed  to  offering  a  welcoming  and  inclusive  environment  to  witnesses,  staff,  and  volunteers.',
                    created:  2023-07-07T14:57:23.679Z,
                    orgId:  '1405',
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                              name:  'Peterlee'  },
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                              name:  'Newton  Aycliffe'  },
                          {  _id:  'fb8f49ef-9a3a-40d6-bdac-f63a2590e544',
                              name:  'Durham  City'  },
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                      [  {  _id:  '00387814-94c3-4bd3-8067-fb9e5dc3d9f6',
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                          {  _id:  '72654bc2-c961-424c-bb8e-a9fb7ab9bdc5',
                              name:  'Victim  Support',
                              backgroundImage:  '',
                              iconImage:  ''  },
                          {  _id:  'c522c03b-5563-498c-acdd-69abc9b01c9c',
                              name:  'Domestic  Violence',
                              backgroundImage:  '',
                              iconImage:  ''  },
                          {  _id:  'ddcc71b3-142b-4907-8635-9c82f6b996ab',
                              name:  'Criminal  Justice/Legal',
                              backgroundImage:  '',
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                    active:  true,
                    contactPerson:  'Danny  Wood',
                    contactEmail:  'danny.wood@citizensadvice.org.uk',
                    contactTelephone:  '07920  588  863',
                    address:  '',
                    hours:
                      '9am  -  5pm.  Some  scope  for  half  day  volunteers  at  certain  locations.  ',
                    websiteLink:
                      'https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/support-us/volunteering/volunteer-with-our-witness-service/',
                    startDate:  2023-07-07T14:57:23.679Z,
                    endDate:  2024-12-31T14:57:23.679Z,
                    whatYouWillBeDoing:
                      'Provide  impartial  support  for  both  prosecution  and  defence  witnesses.\n\nOur  trained  volunteers  provide  practical  help,  emotional  support  and  information  to  witnesses  so  that  they  feel  valued,  respected  and  informed  and  able  to  give  their  best  evidence  in  court.',
                    skillsExperienceAndQualitiesNeeded:
                      'Witness  Service  volunteers  need  to  have  a  caring,  mature,  supportive  and  empathetic  manner  towards  others.  You  need  to  be  friendly  and  approachable  with  good  listening  and  verbal  communication  skills.\n\nA  non-judgemental,  impartial  and  confidential  approach  to  supporting  others  is  essential.\n\nVolunteers  need  to  have  respect  for  the  diversity  of  all  people,  which  includes  commitment  to  the  service’s  objective  of  ensuring  equal  access  is  offered  to  all  witnesses  and  and  their  supporters.\n\nVolunteers  need  to  be  committed,  trustworthy,  discreet  and  prepared  to  adhere  to  Citizens  Advice  Witness  Service  standards  to  ensure  we  deliver  a  high  standard  of  service  to  our  witnesses  and  victims.',
                    whenAndWhere:
                      'We  need  more  volunteers  at  court  locations  across  Cleveland,  Durham  and  Northumbria.  \nMinimum  commitment  requirements  are  for  1  day  per  week  (9am  -  5pm)  for  a  minimum  of  12  months  after  accreditation.  Some  court  locations  can  accommodate  half  day  volunteers  (9am  -  1pm)',
                    supportOfferedExpenses:
                      'WE  WILL  REIMBURSE  REASONABLE  TRAVEL  AND  LUNCH  EXPENSES.\n\nBASIC  IT  SKILLS  ARE  NECESSARY  TO  VOLUNTEER  WITH  US  -  WE  USE  AN  ONLINE  TRAINING  PLATFORM,  EMAIL  AS  OUR  PRIMARY  COMMUNICATION  TOOL,  AND,  ESPECIALLY  DURING  SOCIAL  DISTANCING  MEASURES,  VIDEO  CALLS  FOR  VOLUNTEER  MEETINGS  AND  EVENTS.\n\nDUE  TO  THE  NATURE  OF  OUR  WORK,  WE  CAN  ONLY  ACCEPT  VOLUNTEERS  WHO  ARE  18  OR  OLDER.',
                    volunteerBenefits:
                      'Volunteers  can  benefit  from  a  thorough  training  programme  and  full  support  throughout  their  accreditation  period  and  beyond.  \nOther  benefits  include:\n-  Full  dedicated  staff  member  support\n-  Support  from  volunteer  mentors.\n-  Direct  experience  supporting  witnesses  in  a  variety  of  cases\n-  Direct  experience  liaising  with  other  court  users.  E.g.  Crown  prosecution  Service,  Ushers,  Defence  solicitors  &  domestic  violence  advocates.  ',
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