At a Glance
- Tasks: Support those bereaved by suicide through peer-led groups and a national support line.
- Company: Join a unique charity dedicated to helping individuals impacted by suicide loss.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience, training, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Flexible volunteering hours with opportunities for personal growth and support.
- Why this job: Be part of a compassionate community and help others heal from their grief.
- Qualifications: Must be over 18 and bereaved by suicide for more than 2 years.
We are the only organisation offering peer-to-peer support to all those over the age of 18, impacted by suicide loss in the UK. We help those bereaved by suicide to support each other, at the time of their loss and in the months and years that follow. We provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings. We offer peer-led support groups, online virtual support groups, a national telephone support line, an online community forum, and email support.
Our volunteers at Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide are truly the heartbeat of our charity. They provide support to those impacted by suicide in many ways, including manning telephone support lines, email support, facilitating groups, and organising retreats. They support, fundraise, fight to break suicide stigma, and raise awareness of mental health.
Who can volunteer?
- Be over the age of 18.
- Bereaved by suicide for more than 2 years.
If you would like to support SoBS even if you have not been personally affected by suicide, please click on the link to see how you can help make a difference.
What do our volunteers do?
We run local SoBS support groups at locations around the UK – and we are always looking to open more. Groups are open to anyone over 18 and create an opportunity for people to meet with others who have been bereaved by suicide so that they can share experiences and ask questions. They meet once a month, at a set time and location.
Each local SoBS group is run by a team of 3 group volunteers. Between them, they facilitate the session, get the conversation started, make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk if they want to, and generally look out for people. The team also works together to manage the administration, fundraising, and communication for the group.
Great group volunteers:
- Do more listening than talking.
- Are comfortable listening to the experiences of others.
- Pay attention to their own well-being and boundaries.
All volunteers are to be bereaved by suicide for more than 2 years. This shared experience with the people who come to our groups is a really important part of what makes them so effective. People feel that they will be understood. There are opportunities for those who have not been bereaved to volunteer to support with the running of the group, which could include making refreshments, fundraising, and administration tasks but not to facilitate a support group.
All volunteers are advised to attend a SoBS support group before applying to become a volunteer (either face to face or virtual) unless applying for a supporting role. All 3 volunteers must attend SoBS training before a group can start. A group can be made up of two bereaved volunteers and one supporting volunteer.
We operate a national support line, open from 9am to 7pm, 7 days per week, 52 weeks of the year. Support line volunteers listen to callers, answer any questions they have, and arrange to send them further information if required. Sometimes callers may ask you to share your personal story. They have shifts assigned in advance governed by their availability and can be between 30 minutes and 4 hours long, depending on the volunteer's preference. Volunteers are welcome to use either a landline or a mobile phone when accessing the support line.
Join our Fundraising Heroes and raise funds and awareness for our charity. If you have not been bereaved by suicide for 2 years or would prefer to have a non-bereavement support role then fundraising may be for you.
Frequently asked Questions about volunteering with SoBS:
Being one of our volunteers is rewarding but demanding work. Here are some honest answers to the most common questions people ask about becoming volunteers:
- What kind of people volunteer for SoBS? People from all walks of life volunteer for SoBS.
- Do I have to have been bereaved by suicide? Being bereaved by suicide more than 2 years previously is a requirement if you would like to work on our support line, email support, or be a group facilitator. However, if you would like to fundraise or raise awareness you can do this even if you have not been personally affected by suicide.
- How much time will it take? If you work on the support line, you will be allocated shifts arranged around your availability, each between 30 minutes and 4 hours long. For a team facilitating a group, the minimum time is around 5 to 6 hours a month each.
- There isn’t a group near me – can I start one? If you are interested in opening a new group, you will need to form a team of three and all volunteers must have been bereaved by suicide for 2 years or more.
- Do I have to be a trained counsellor? No - our services are about self-help.
- What training is available? We offer training to volunteers before they deliver our services.
- Am I ready to volunteer? Being a volunteer with SoBS can be rewarding but demanding work.
Suicide Bereavement Peer Support Volunteer in Long Eaton employer: Better Impact
At Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, we pride ourselves on being a compassionate and supportive employer, dedicated to creating a safe environment for our volunteers. Our culture is rooted in understanding and empathy, as we are all connected by the shared experience of loss, which fosters deep connections and personal growth. Volunteers have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while receiving comprehensive training and ongoing support, ensuring they feel valued and equipped to help others navigate their grief journey.
