Dublin Rape Crisis Centre needs more volunteers as demand for its services has rocketed. Iva Pocock reports
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is seeking volunteers to help with the increased demand for its services, which include a 24-hour helpline and therapy programmes.
Since the centre was founded in 1979, the number of people contacting the crisis line for help has increased from 76 in 1979 to 15,717 in 2003.
Volunteers are essential to the centre's work in healing the trauma of rape and sexual abuse.
They maintain the 24-hour helpline, which is run by paid staff during office hours, by answering calls through the night, at weekends and during holidays.
Volunteers also attend at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in the Rotunda Hospital. This 24-hour service to support the victims of rape and sexual violence is entirely dependent on volunteers.
"We couldn't offer either service without volunteers," says Mairead Mallon, head of volunteer services, who started at the centre in 1999.
So what kind of people give their time and energy to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre? All sorts, says Mallon.
"The mix in the group is incredible, from professionals to housewives. An interesting trend is that we used to have a lot of retired people but we now have a lot of young people and mature students."
So far all volunteers have been women, by accident not design, and the centre is currently reviewing men's involvement in the organisation. Volunteers must be over 25 years of age.
All of them are motivated by a desire "to give something back", says Mallon. "For those in a high-powered, high-tech lifestyle it's also about getting something back for themselves in a human way."
No professional qualifications are necessary to volunteer at the centre, says Mallon. "It's more about qualities. We are first of all mindful of our clients but also we are mindful of our volunteers, that they will be able to deal with the impact of the work."
On applying to become a volunteer, people are asked to a group interview, and almost everybody is then asked back for individual interviews.
"We would then have a sense of who we think would be able for the work," says Mallon. "We would be very mindful that people might have the best will in the world to do this kind of work but that it just mightn't be the right time for them."
Next comes the intensive training of 72 hours over four weekends by in-house staff. "It's absolutely necessary in order to do this type of work," says Mallon.
The training is very experiential, with lots of role play as well as inputs in rape, child sexual abuse and listening skills.
Some people realise during these weekends that the work is not for them, but those who go on to volunteer must choose between either the helpline or the SATU in the Rotunda.
"In some cases it's self-selected, as people are better face to face than on a phoneline," says Mallon.
For the 24-hour crisis phoneline, volunteers are asked to commit to four slots a month, including an overnight, for two years. They must also attend the centre for a regular supervision session, which offers a "nice social aspect" and an opportunity for people to stay in touch, explains Mallon. It is also essential in ensuring that the trauma which volunteers must deal with does not negatively affect them.
Those working at the hospital must also attend regular supervisory sessions, but they are on call for 12 hours every week, for a maximum of two years.
Bosses and workplaces, as well as family, must therefore support a volunteer's work. "You have to have a contingency plan, such as getting someone to pick up the kids, because if the Rotunda rings, you have to go down."
There is flexibility even though the service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. "Life happens for volunteers but you'd never be stuck. There's huge flexibility and team playing," says Mallon.
In calling for more help, Mallon points out: "The more volunteers we have, the less people are stretched."
The closing date for application is January 8th, 2005. Contact 1800 77 88 88.