Witness Service Court Based Volunteer - Norwich Crown & Magistrates' Courts
Organisation role · 4–8 hrs/Week
Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
Support workOther
WellbeingOlder peopleChildren & youth
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Citizens Advice Witness Service
#54367
Scan me or visit www.getinvolvednorfolk.org.uk/o/Citizens-Advice-Witness-Service1/opportunities/Witness-Service-Court-Based-Volunteer---Norwich-Crown--Magistrates-Courts/54367 to join
Scan me or visit www.getinvolvednorfolk.org.uk/o/Citizens-Advice-Witness-Service1/opportunities/Witness-Service-Court-Based-Volunteer---Norwich-Crown--Magistrates-Courts/54367 to join
Contact person
Clare GreenAsk Clare a question
Summary
You’ll support witnesses and their friends and family when they come to court. You’ll give them practical information about the process & emotional support.Detailed description
What will you do?
- Support witnesses (and their friends and families) through the experience of attending court and giving evidence.
- Give witnesses and their supporters confidential support, guidance and information.
- Help witnesses cope with the emotional impact of giving evidence.
- Explain court procedures, legal terms and outcomes.
- Show witnesses and others around the courtroom before a trial so they are familiar and at ease in the environment.
- Carry out the paperwork necessary to record and evaluate our work.
- Help witnesses prepare themselves for a range of possible trial outcomes.
- Go into the courtroom with a witness if permitted.
- Identify additional support to which we can signpost witnesses.
- Work as part of a team with other Witness Service court and outreach volunteers and staff as well as liaising with court personnel.
What’s in it for you?
- Contribute to the service’s aims of supporting witnesses.
- Training, accreditation and continued personal development and support in the role.
- Use your skills and life experiences to help others.
- The chance to take on additional internal roles such as a volunteer mentor.
- Gain valuable experience and development of interpersonal skills.
- Have a positive impact in your community and on the lives of witnesses and their supporters.
- Reimbursement of agreed expenses.
What do you need to have?
You don’t need specific qualifications but you’ll need to:
- Be friendly, caring, supportive and empathetic towards others.
- Be non-judgemental and impartial.
- Have good communication skills; both written and verbal, as well as being a good listener.
- Be able to work effectively as part of a team and build positive working relationships with a diverse range of people.
- Be reliable, committed and flexible.
- Have a willingness to adapt to change, and learn and grow with the Service.
- Be willing to embody our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Have an understanding of and commitment to the principles of confidentiality.
- Be willing to work within the service’s values, procedures and policies.
- Be willing to use computers for training and communication.
- The ability to handle challenging situations and use your initiative, experience and training to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.
- The role will require an Enhanced level DBS disclosure (a criminal record check), which we will arrange.
How much time do you need to give?
You will need to:
- Attend from 9am-5pm on your chosen day(s). We usually require a commitment of one day a week for at least 12 months after training and accreditation, which can take at least 3 months, but welcome suggestions from applicants for flexible arrangements.
- attend all relevant training required for the role
attend volunteer meetings and regular one-to-one support sessions
What we will provide to volunteers
💸 Reimbursement of costs🤝 Extra supportAbout Citizens Advice Witness Service
Giving evidence as a witness can be daunting and the court process can be complicated and difficult to understand. The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free and independent support for both prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.
Our trained volunteers provide practical information about the court process as well as emotional support to help witnesses feel more confident when giving evidence.
Our 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.
Our trained volunteers provide practical information about the court process as well as emotional support to help witnesses feel more confident when giving evidence.
Our 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.