Your Sanctuary

Volunteers on our specialist helpline provide essential support to people experiencing domestic abuse.  You will provide immediate listening, emotional and practical support and also signpost to other agencies as appropriate.  Full training is provided and you will be part of a very supportive team of employees and volunteers.

The role is home-based but there is an initial requirement to attend some weekday daytime shadowing sessions at our offices in Woking.  After this, there is limited need to come to Woking apart from occasional attendance at volunteer meetings. 

We ask that volunteers are non-judgemental with good communication skills along with a calm and sympathetic telephone manner.  Volunteers must be at least 18 and ideally able to volunteer for a minimum of six months.  A standard DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check will be required as are two references.  As it is essential that the service we offer to callers is of the highest standard, we do only accept volunteers (after training) who we believe have the skills and ability to cope with the demands of the role.

Shifts are from 5pm to 9pm Monday to Friday and then on Saturdays/Sundays from 9am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm and 5pm to 9pm.  There is some flexibility on the times and you can choose to commit to a regular shift or look at the rota when it is sent round each month and decided which of the available shifts suit you best.  We do ask that volunteers do a minimum of two shifts per month.

Our offices are based in Woking (parking is available or it is a 20 minute walk from the station).  After completion of the induction/training period, volunteers can then claim travel expenses.

Please contact us by clicking on the Sign Up button.

Your Sanctuary works to prevent domestic abuse and undo the damage it causes to individuals, families and communities.  We provide direct services to women, men and children affected by domestic abuse as well as prevention, advocacy and education programmes.  Our clients come from diverse communities, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, socio-economic and age groups.