We are looking for Helpline Volunteers
Hopian is looking for volunteers to be the first point of contact for anyone who gets in touch with our Helpline for those affected by Domestic Abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation. We are looking for individuals who can commit regularly (once a week) to support our Helpline for a minimum of 3 hours.
Hopian is a registered charity that provides advice and support for adults and children who have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse through the provision of refuge accommodation and community support services. We also provide support and access to counselling for people affected by Child Sexual Exploitation.
What the role entails
Answer inbound calls and respond to general enquiries to help people understand our service and the next steps.
Take safe contact details and record brief notes so our staff can follow up efficiently.
Triage and signpost using clear guidance, escalating any higher-risk or complex concerns to a staff member.
Support email responses to straightforward enquiries and referrals, using agreed templates and safecontact practices.
Contact people at the end of their support to gather feedback, helping us improve our services and ensure everyone feels heard and valued.
What we are looking for
We ask for a regular time commitment of 3 hours per week (minimum).
Clear and confident communication, spoken and written.
Active listening and empathy, with the ability to stay calm under pressure.
Good judgement about boundaries and confidentiality (you will always have a staff member to escalate to).
Basic digital skills for call notes and email replies.
Training, supervision & support
You will receive a structured induction, role-specific training, and ongoing group supervision, plus access to the Volunteer Handbook and a supportive team environment.
Recruitment process
Once you submit your CV and covering letter, it will be reviewed and shortlisted against the role criteria. If your application meets the requirements, you will be invited to an interview.
Applicants who are successful at the interview will receive a conditional offer, subject to standard checks. These include identity verification, two satisfactory references, and, where required for the role, a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
We will keep you informed at each stage and will advise you of induction dates once we have made a conditional offer.
Before starting your role, you will need to attend all required induction and role-specific training. Some sessions may fall outside your usual weekly volunteering schedule, particularly in the early stages of onboarding. We ask for a commitment to attend the full training programme so that you feel confident and supported in the helpline.
Time Commitment
We are currently recruiting volunteers for three-hour shifts to cover our Helpline during the week (Monday to Friday). We ask for a commitment of at least 1 regular 3-hour shift per week (minimum).
Apply today & join our great team!
Please visit our volunteer application portal (click here) to submit your CV and covering letter, outlining how you meet our criteria, to become a HelpLine volunteer.
Notes
Your CV should outline your education and employment history and anything you feel is relevant to this role; your covering letter should cover why you would wish to volunteer, what your time commitments are like and what qualities you have that are well-suited to being a Helpline Volunteer.
If you have any queries, please get in touch with enquiries@hopian.org.uk.
Student placements
We welcome applications for student placements linked to relevant courses. Placements follow the same principles and boundaries as our volunteer roles. The scope and supervision are agreed at the start in line with course requirements and placement agreements.
We regularly review our capacity to support volunteers and students; applications may be paused at times to maintain safe, high-quality support. Hopian offers volunteering and placements for students across services; the helpline is one of the routes we are expanding.
Here is a short, sensitive, and inclusive summary you can add to your advert.
It is written to be trauma-informed, welcoming, and clear, without creating barriers or singling anyone out.
Volunteers with lived experience
We welcome volunteers from all communities and want our helpline team to reflect the diversity of people living in Rotherham.
We also welcome applications from people who have previously accessed Hopian services. If you have experience of our support, we ask that you have completed your planned programme of support before volunteering on the helpline, and that you feel in a position to take on the role safely and confidently.
Everyone’s experiences and recovery journey are different, so we will talk with you individually to make sure the role feels safe, supportive, and does not put you at risk of becoming overwhelmed or retraumatised. Your wellbeing is our priority, and we will work with you to explore whether this is the right time and the right role for you, with the Subject Header: Helpline Volunteer.