NIDAS volunteer support - group delivery – Changing Lives, Newcastle

Key Responsibilities

• Support facilitators to deliver domestic abuse awareness sessions in a respectful, inclusive, and trauma-informed manner.
• Draw upon personal lived experience appropriately to help participants understand the impact of domestic abuse and recovery, where comfortable and agreed with facilitators.
• Help create a welcoming, non-judgemental, and psychologically safe environment for all participants.
• Encourage participation and engagement whilst respecting individuals' choices, boundaries, and readiness to contribute.
• Support group activities, discussions, and reflection exercises as directed by programme facilitators.
• Assist in identifying and responding appropriately to participant wellbeing concerns, reporting any safeguarding, risk, or welfare issues to staff members in line with organisational procedures.
• Model healthy communication, respect, and positive coping strategies.
• Provide peer encouragement and help participants feel heard, valued, and understood.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.
• Work collaboratively with facilitators and staff to ensure sessions run smoothly.
• Attend training, supervision, and reflective practice sessions as required.
• Contribute feedback to support the development and improvement of the programme.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-discriminatory practice within the group setting.
• Support facilitators with practical session tasks such as welcoming participants, setting up resources, and assisting with session administration where needed.

What the role is not

• Provide counselling, advocacy, crisis intervention, or specialist domestic abuse advice.
• Assess risk or make safeguarding decisions independently.
• Be expected to share personal experiences beyond their comfort level.
• Support participants outside of agreed volunteer boundaries without staff oversight.

Person Specification

• Have lived experience of domestic abuse and be at a stage of recovery where participation in the role is appropriate.
• Demonstrate empathy, compassion, and non-judgemental attitudes.
• Be able to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Have good listening and communication skills.
• Be committed to trauma-informed, survivor-centred practice.
• Be reliable and able to work effectively as part of a team.
• Be willing to undertake training, supervision, and ongoing learning.

Expected hours/time

3 - 6 hours per week depending which may vary depending on group delivery time table.

If we decide to take your application forward, you will be invited for an interview for the role.