Volunteers are needed in Newtown and throughout Montgomeryshire to help support the victims of crime.
An appeal has been put out by Goleudy, a service commissioned by the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner that provides anyone affected by crime, regardless of if they’ve reported it to the police, with the support they need to recover from their experience.
It relies on volunteers to provide a tailored support plan to witnesses and victims and the service said it is is crying out for more help.
In particular Goleudy is looking for Community Victim Support Volunteers, who are required to give confidential listening support and practical help to victims and witnesses of crime.
Goleudy manager Nichola Rance said: “Our service relies quite heavily on support from volunteers and our numbers are currently very low. This means witnesses and victims of crime may not be getting the help they would like. If we were able to boost our volunteers’ numbers significantly we would be able to get people on the road to recovery much faster.
“The role of Community Victim Support Volunteers is a rewarding and interesting opportunity for someone who likes the idea of helping vulnerable people get through a difficult time. You have to be over 18 and would have to go through specialist training and a vetting process before embarking on the role. I strongly urge people to get in touch if they wish to know more about this opportunity.”
The role entails contacting people who have been victims of crime, either on the phone, or at the victim’s home, communicating a way appropriate to the person being supported, clearly explain the support Goleudy can offer to empower victims to overcome the emotional, psychological and practical effects of crime.
The crime does not need to have been reported to police before accessing the support available. In fact, one of the roles of Goleudy is to talk to someone about their options if they haven’t reported the crime, talk through what happened to them and how they feel about it.
Goleudy aims to provide a high standard of care for victims and witnesses in the Criminal Justice System. For more information about Goleudy visit www.goleudyvictimandwitnessservice.org.uk.
To find out more about volunteering for Goleudy email volunteers@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk or call 01267 226463.
