Volunteering for The NRICC

Sexual violence disrupts women's lives. NRICC is a local charity run by women for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence, whether recently or in the past. We have been operating since 1986. We are a rape crisis centre offering a professional service that women want and use. The name change reflects the broader aims of our organisation and makes it easier for women to approach/contact the service.

Our objectives are to :

Provide a free counselling, support and information service for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence/abuse, whether recently or in the past. (Counselling is person centred with other approaches integrated as appropriate).
Provide other services to support our aims e.g. training, awareness raising, outreach and research.
Work in partnership to make sure the needs of sexually abused women are recognised in other service provision.

Practical help, offered when necessary, can include accompanying the woman to relevant agencies, including the Police, GP, GUM Clinic, Family Planning and Courts. We also have information on where other forms of help can be obtained.

We aim to spread understanding about the effects of sexual violence upon any female and to dispel the myths surrounding rape and sexual assaults. In order to do this we provide talks and training and community groups, professional organisations, colleges, universities and other relevant agencies.

NRICC has developed specialist knowledge and skills in the psychological, physical and practical areas of sexual violence. Evidence of the need for this specialist service can be seen in the growth in demand for the Service since 1986.

Confidentiality

We offer a confidential service to the women who come to us for counselling. In line with our confidentiality policy we do not allow tapes or transcripts of taped sessions. If tapes of supervision sessions are required, these will be destroyed after use.

We are an organisational member of the British Association for the Counselling and Practice in line with BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Staffing

The centre is run by a small team of full and part time workers.

We are interested in receiving applications for volunteering in any of three voluntary capacities. We are keen to encourage applications from older women, women with disabilities and from ethnic minority communities.

Volunteer Counsellors / Client Support Workers

Volunteer Counsellors have a variety of qualifications and experience. Their counselling qualifications vary from MA, Diploma, Certificate, qualifications in Supervision, and those who are currently studying for professional qualifications. We require women who are applying to become volunteer counsellors:

To be at least 25 years old.
To have a minimum of Level 1 in counselling by the time they start client support work and/or are continuing to study for further counselling qualifications.
To have a commitment to ongoing counselling training.
To complete an application form - providing two references.
To attend interview.
To complete our training course - Rape Crisis Counselling.
To complete our period of induction.

If accepted onto the training course, trainees are required to sign a learning agreement. The course runs over 36 hours. Trainees are required to attend 80% of training sessions:

On successful completion of the course, Client Support Work will commence with previously assessed clients who have been suitably matched to the skills of the individual SW.
On completion of the 2 years voluntary service or on payment of £250 if the 2 year period has not been completed, trainees are awarded an NRICC Certificate in Rape Crisis Counselling.
Counsellors are required to attend ongoing mandatory training.

Volunteer SW’s are invited to make a commitment to work with us for a minimum of 2 years and to:

To provide counselling for a minimum of 2 clients per week.
To attend regular supervision sessions of their counselling work.
To sign our Confidentiality Policy and abide by all of the Centre’s policies (e.g. Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety). This is required of all NRICC staff and volunteers.

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer?

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for The NRICC, please
download an information pack.

The Northamptonshire Rape & Incest Crisis Centre, 184 -186 Billing Road, Wantage Gate, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 5RU

Registered Charity No. 297043

This Centre is Grant aided by Northampton Borough Council & Northamptonshire County Council

Telephone: 01604 250721