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Become a Volunteer in Bristol

Listening Support Services Volunteer

Become a Helpline and Text Service Volunteer in Bristol

Sift has been supporting people affected by self-harm, trauma, and distress for 40 years. Our wonderful team of Listening Service Volunteers provide valuable, non-judgemental support that has an important impact on the lives of people who contact us.

We’re currently recruiting Bristol-based volunteers to work across our helpline, text and email services. These volunteers work from our office, located in the city centre.

Our next volunteer training course takes place online over Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October. Volunteers attend all four dates to complete the training. Please note, while training takes place online, volunteers applying through this route work from our Bristol office.

Click here to apply for our October 2026 training course

Practical details: 

  • An Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for this role, which will be paid for by Sift.
  • Volunteers work across our three services – helpline, text and email – on a rota basis.
  • We ask that volunteers commit to a year on the service after completion of training. Unfortunately we are unable to offer shorter-term opportunities.
  • We’re looking for volunteers who are available on the training dates mentioned above and free to volunteer once a week on a Monday and/or a Thursday.

By volunteering with us, you'll:

  • Develop valuable knowledge around self-harm, trauma, and mental health and transferable skills in active listening.
  • Meet supportive, like-minded peers on shift, as well as at our quarterly Volunteer Days where you'll receive additional relevant training. 
  • Get support from our coordinators and volunteer team through supervision and reflective practice, ensuring you're always emotionally and practically supported in the work you do.
  • Develop a gentle, transformative approach to mental health support that can be applied elsewhere in life.
  • Transform the lives of an overlooked and misunderstood community.

When you join our team, you’ll take part in our four-day online training course. The training is an opportunity to meet new people and learn the valuable skills you’ll take with you into the work. 

Working on the service, you’ll answer calls, texts and emails from people impacted by self-harm and offer them confidential, emotional support to understand their own experiences and make decisions that are right for them.

Every quarter, you’ll meet a group of your peers to discuss volunteering in a safe, confidential space, as well as receive some refresher training from our small, friendly team of coordinators.

Anybody! We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. You may have your own experiences of self-harm or mental health challenges, or be keen to learn how to support others through the same. 

We're looking for anyone who can listen with empathy and an understanding that everyone’s situation is unique. We're keen to recruit volunteers who are flexible, adaptable, and open to new learning experiences. 

 

You don’t need previous listening or counselling experience: just an open mind, a commitment to the role, and a willingness to learn. 

After you submit the application form, we'll get in touch to arrange a chat if we feel you're the right fit for our services. We have limited training spaces available and may only be able to respond if your application is successful. If you don’t hear back from us this time, we recommend following us on LinkedIn or checking our website periodically to look out for training opportunities in 2027.

Other Volunteering Opportunities

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Become a Trustee

Help the charity deliver on its Vision and Values whilst impacting the lives of people affected by self-harm.

We are looking for individuals who will work effectively with other members of the trustee board to set the strategic direction of the organisation and to ensure that it works to meet its aims and objectives within a sound financial and legal framework. We are particularly looking for people with experience in Legal, Strategy and Business Development, HR, and Board Secretary.

Read Person Specification
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