Phoneline volunteers thread

[giraffescantdancethetango]

Iam training to be a childline councellor, would be great to chat to others in the same position. Am really unsure about how hard the training will be and the criteria for getting through it or not.

Other charity phone volunteers welcome to join in (samaritans, no panic etc)

If no one else joins in I will happily ramble away to myself to keep this thread bumped to raise awareness and in the hope someone comes along and shares what CL training is really like.

That sounds interesting giraffe although could be potentialy upsetting at times.What background/quals do you need to do this kind of work btw?

You will have thorough training.

Child protection, how to deal with each different circumstance when the phones ring.

Enjoy, its a great job.

Sorry only searched for my thread as my course starts this week (had a few cancelled due to other people pullin out so they didnt run course)

Squatchette - Technically I think you can have no experience. You have to attend an info evening, where you then get given an application form. Then fill that in. Provide 2 references - they are checked. Once you have done that then they invite you for quite a thourogh interview. Then they let you know if you have been sucessful for training. I have a lot of voluntary experience with children and a teaching degree but they provide full training.

Am so nervous about starting!!

You will be fine!

I volunteered for Saneline one night a week for about four years. I dont know about childline but Saneline definitely gave us loads of training and lots of support. We practiced having really difficult calls so you know how to deal with it, and there was always someone there to give you support after difficult calls.

When I started I used to really dread going in and always thought about calling in sick, but then I thought of letting down the people who really do need that helpline. After about two months I was really used to it and the difficult side didnt bother me anymore.

I think it is better than the Samaritans because it is specialist so you can learn the information and give people specific advice, rather than just general listening, altho thats good too.

You are doing a great thing. It is nerve-wracking at first but pretty soon you will come home and know that you have really helped someone. Good luck.

I dont know if you will still check this thread but i just wanted to add that its a lovely thing to do, i phoned childline once when i was 17 (had noone else to phone and was despirate but they assured me i was fine as 17 is still a child!) they were a lovely help and i found that a big help on my path of getting through things - i had taken an overdose a few weeks before and regretted telling someone and wanted still to die! probably a hard call for the lady to deal with but i was desperate and needed someone to tell me i could be ok etc etc and the lady i spoke to was great i just wish now that 11 years on i could tell her how much she changed my life!!!

Thats wonderful to hear jenny

Loved the first session, really enjoyed it. Can't wait for next week!

Well am half way through now! Have done an observation shift in the councelling room...next time I am in there will be for real (with help thouh obviously)

Am getting more and more confident, at first in skills pratice we were doing 2 minute calls, now much longer and using all the tools we have its amazing how much better we are all getting. Have started to realise that its better to just say something even if Im not sure if its right cos then then trainer knows what Im thinking.

Got my midway meeting today - one on one meeting with a trainer to discuss progress, so abit nervous.

Really enjoying it though.

God havent updated this for ages! Well the midway meeting on 20th Feb went fantasticly!! Was really positive, unfortunately after that I became very unwell with tonsillitis and wasnt able to continue with the course

So started another one in March/April have had observation shift and midway assessment - both went well

And yesterday I took my very first calls, was really really nervous! I was sitting with an experienced councellor and she did it for the first hour and I listened, then I felt confident enough to put my training in to use and I took calls for the next 2 hours. It was amazing! My nerves went because of the adrenaline on not knowing what you are goin to get when the phone rings. Was able to do some really positive work and it felt amazing!! Because I am still training the person sitting beside me had to fill in a form about my performance and it was all very positive.

If anyones considering doing it please DO, cos it feels AMAZING when you are able to help and I cant wait to go back next week and do it all again!!

Updating again. Still hoping someone else will join me...

Well I made it! Finished training and passed Lastnight was my first shift as a councellor where I was on my own. Previous shifts I have been training so have had someone sitting beside me with headphones listening in to help me if I needed. Was fantastic to be on my own, and I felt so much more confident. I absolutely loved it!! It finished at 11.30 and they got us taxis home. I came home on a complete high - but exhausted cos I had been at work all day! I can't wait for my next shift now, its such a buzz to be able to help!

Another update since I was finding this thread for Thunderduck anyway

Have now done 10 solo shifts, which means I am allowed to sign up for additional training which I am looking forwards to - some of the topics are really interesting.

Am absolutely LOVING it. Come away on such a high. Some aspects are very hard but you get a lot of support.

Over a year since I started this! Have done night shifts and am over half way to meeting my commitment of hours. Have done 3 additional trainings and had 2 supervisions and both went really well. Love it!

isn't it fab? are you in london giraffes? (I am)... have been doing it for 2 years now. love it.

No I am in Glasgow. I love it too. I did my first chat last week - managed to escape it for ages because of my wrist injury!

can I ask how many hours it involves and do you need to work far from home, Im thinking about applying but worried that I'd find it upsetting

Elliot am so sorry I only saw this now. I will reply anyway on the off chance!

Training is 10x3 hours plus 2.5 shifts. Once trained your commitment is one shift a week (4.15 hours) and I think its 40 shifts a year you need to do in order to "pay back" the cost of your training.

It depends where your local base is - Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Rhyl, Swansea, Birmingham, Nottingham, London, Exeter, Belfast and Foyle

Wow 10 years on and i found this when looking. Great info you have provided giraffe