Volunteer

A befriender is someone willing to take a few hours out of their week to spend one to one time with a woman who has experienced domestic abuse.

Befrienders empower women to become more independent. Examples of activities that befrienders can explore are:

• Join an art class, college class or an exercise class
• Accompany her for shopping or going for a coffee
• Help find information and advice
• Provide a listening ear when she needs support

Our Befriending Service offers support to women across Fife who have experienced domestic abuse.

Our volunteer befrienders provide regular visits to women allowing the opportunity for interaction and a chance to talk. Volunteer befrienders usually meet weekly for 1-2 hours where they encourage and support women to get out of their home and do something together – like going for a walk, or a coffee or shopping. You may help her to find information and advice or maybe engage in a class in the local community.

The goals of the befriending service are to;

• Empower Women,
• Build Independence,
• Build Confidence
• Reduce Isolation and Loneliness

Full training and support will be offered throughout your time with FWA. You will have the option to attend volunteer meetings, training and social events throughout the year.

Fife Women’s Aid is a feminist organisation and strives to be a supportive and empowering employer offering competitive terms and conditions.

Membership of Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme is a requirement for this post.

Only women are eligible to apply for this post due to Genuine Occupational Requirement (Schedule 9; Equality Act 2010). Fife Women’s Aid welcomes applications from women from all sectors of the community.

Fife Women’s Aid counselling service provides one-to-one counselling to women affected by domestic abuse.

Working in a confidential setting, counsellors provide non directive support to clients to help them explore feelings, anxieties and life events that impact on their emotional wellbeing.

As a volunteer you will be fully supported by our trained counselling team, and training will be provided as required.

For the post of volunteer counsellor we require that you are qualified to Diploma Level or above. Alternatively you must be a student volunteer counsellor undertaking a recognised accredited counselling course. All students applying to come on placement must be studying at Diploma level and have achieved ‘fit to practice’ status.

Please note that we are not actively recruiting volunteer counsellors at this time and will update our website when this changes. Thank you for your interest in working with us.