Innisfail and District Victim Services is looking for more volunteer advocates.
Bev Sliger, the victim services co-ordinator, said there are five current volunteers and two going through the screening process. They're hoping to attract three to four more, though she said more would be welcome.
The volunteer advocate role can involve everything from going out to crime scenes to helping sell merchandise to tourists at the RCMP dog training grounds during the summer to help fundraise.
"The bulk of the work is the phone," Sliger said, noting that could be either carrying the emergency phone that is rotated amongst advocates or going into the RCMP detachment to do followup phone calls with victims of crime.
Going out to crime scenes is "the smallest part of it" and advocates are always sent in pairs, Sliger said. She said they do try and protect their volunteers from exposure to the full reality of the crime scene.
Working on the phones involves lending "an impartial ear" to callers but also involves giving out referrals and information to victims.
"Referrals, information, that's what we do," Sliger said. Sometimes there is the occasional bit of hands-on work as well.
Volunteers who are unable to carry the emergency phone occasionally can still help by going in to do the followup calls.
Sliger said they're looking for whatever volunteers can give in terms of help and time commitment.
"It's really not a tremendous time commitment at all," she said. In addition to any volunteer shifts and carrying the emergency phone, there are meetings once a month and a hope volunteers will participate in fundraising and awareness events in the community.
Volunteers for victim services need to be great listeners.
"You've got to be compassionate and kind," Sliger said. "You have to be very level-headed."
Both men and women and people of a variety of ages are encouraged to apply, though Sliger said younger applicants would need to be "very, very mature."
To apply, applicants initially contact Sliger and have a pre-interview.
"After that you're given some paperwork," she said. The paperwork is for an advanced security search and can take some time.
"You have to be patient," Sliger said. While waiting for the screening to come back volunteers can attend meetings and start their online training.
There would be some one-on-one training and shadowing trained advocates later in the process.
To get more information about volunteering for Innisfail and District Victim Services call Sliger at the RCMP detachment, 403-227-3342.
