Volunteers are central to the services Off The Record offers and at any one time 110-130 people volunteer with us.  While the majority are volunteers on the weekly rota, some also support the service in other ways - as committee members,  trustee/directors, supervisors, group workers or by helping with promotions and other activities.

All volunteers on the rota, regardless of previous qualifications or experience must complete Off The Record's in-house 4 day selection/training programme 'Being a Volunteer' (BAV).  All new volunteers also join the rota for a min of 6 months in a support worker role.  Those seeking to develop and use their counselling skills, then have an opportunity to attend Skills Assessment Training to prepare for working in a counselling role.

Volunteers on the rota fall into 3 main groups:  

• Support volunteers - provide the vital first point of contact with the service, and offer information and informal support via drop-in, phone and email
• Counselling skills volunteers - offer 1:1 support to clients.  All volunteers in this role have completed a minimum level 2 accredited counselling qualification and a skills assessment training within Off The Record
• Diploma qualified volunteers - offer support to clients presenting more complex issues.  Usually they are also our more experienced volunteers.

-and all are required to: 

• Support one regular rota duty per week (minimum 2½ hours) during our advertised opening hours
• Attend a monthly group supervision meeting
• Regularly attend workshops and trainings provided by Off The Record
• Uphold our aims and objectives, and work within our policies, procedures and ethical guidelines
• Comply with Off The Record’s safeguarding policy

Off The Record offers volunteers a good opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence in working with young people.  Volunteering with us also enables you to network with a wide variety of like-minded people.