Do you have 4 hours a week to make a difference? 

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is there for anyone affected by sexual violence, every step of the way. Our mission is to prevent the harm and heal the trauma of rape and other forms of sexual violence. Every year, DRCC receives more than 14,000 contacts on the 24-hour freephone National Helpline and provides accompaniment to victims/survivors seeking forensic medical attention at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) at any time of day or night. The centre also provides accompaniment to those going through the legal process at Garda stations and in court.

To maintain these services, DRCC is seeking volunteers for the following roles:

• Volunteer Crisis Counsellor on the National Helpline and Webchat Support Services
  This role involves providing crisis counselling over the phone on the 24/7 sexual violence counselling line and via DRCC's online webchat service to those affected by sexual violence. Crisis counsellors offer empathy, listening, affirmation, support and accurate information. This National Helpline is used by survivors, victims, their supporters and frontline professionals.
• Volunteer Accompaniment Support at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) 
  This role involves providing accompaniment support to those attending the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) after rape or sexual assault, for medical and forensic examinations. The accompaniment service is available to victims/survivors and any supporters with them. During their time with Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, volunteers will be offered further training by our Accompaniment Department to provide accompaniment to court and garda stations.

Volunteer requirements

Time commitment:

• 4 shifts per month (between 16 and 32 hours, depending on shifts)
• Attending a monthly peer support meeting (either Monday or Tuesday lunchtimes and evening times available)
• In-person attendance at all training dates (see below).

Training:

Volunteers must attend all training dates in person, commencing on 11th of October 2024 for four weekends:

• 11th October (6:30pm to 9pm)
• 12th & 13th October (whole days)
• 19th & 20th October (whole days)
• 23rd October (4pm to 6pm)
• 2nd & 3rd November (whole days)
• 9th November (whole day)

Other requirements: 

DRCC volunteers must:

• Be a minimum of 24 years of age and have fluent English
• Have access to a reliable and secure private internet/broadband service and a secure private space to take confidential calls
• Be able to keep strict confidentiality about all aspects of the work and adhere to all GDPR requirements
• Live within commuting distance of central Dublin (see map for boundaries)
• Commit to a minimum of two years’ service to the DRCC volunteer programme.

Interested in applying?

Before you apply, please review the questions below:

1. Can you commit to 4 shifts and attend a peer support meeting every month?
2. Do you live within commuting distance of Dublin City Centre?
3. Are you available for the training dates listed above?

If you answered “yes” to all the above questions, then please complete this application form, and we’ll be in touch.

If you would like to know more about the role or the volunteer training, please join us for an information evening on 16th or 18th September at 6.30pm.

You can register your attendance via this online poll. Applications will be closing on the 20th September at 6pm.

If you have other question you can find more information on our website, otherwise please email us at volunteerservices@rcc.ie.