Hiya hun,
Good for you! Ive done a few voluntary jobs. I did St johns ambulance for about a year. Didnt really have much to do apart from go to football matches on a saturday and went to windsor horse show. Didnt really get any casualties.. so good to know first aid though!
I then did the samaritans for around a year.. this was nothing like i expected. I loved the training and i really do admire the people that can keep doing it. I had to do one evening a week and also one overnight duty a month. The overnight duty was awful and extremely busy with sex calls and hoax calls. I dont think people realise how unbelievably abused the line is. I would probably say in a year i had a handful of what i would consider genuine calls. I really dont want to put you off as i think they are crying out for people. I just got too fed up with the rubbish i was listening to and decided enough was enough when someone hoaxed their own suicide.. oh and when i was threatened to be taken to court cos i wouldnt listen to a serial caller w@nk!
So from there i went on to be a support contact for NACC (National Association for Colitis and Crohns) I am currently on leave but will definately go back to this when i can. Ive never had one dodgy call and the training is brilliant. I find it so rewarding as i can probably empathise with the callers who ring and need support.
Ive looked at several different voluntary jobs over the years and would highly recommend it.
If you have any questions feel free to PM me,
Claire x