Volunteer

“Do you want to play a part in creating an Ireland with zero tolerance of violence against women?  Do you want to support women subjected to domestic violence?  You can contribute to Women’s Aid’s mission by volunteering with us.  We’d love to hear from you!”

~ Laura Brennan, National Helpline Volunteer Co-ordinator.

Volunteer with the 24hr National Freephone Helpline

Our 24 Hour National Freephone Helpline is a vital source of information and support for women subjected to domestic violence and abuse. It is a lifeline to the women we work with and can act as a gateway for them to access our services and live lives free from abuse.

The Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline offers confidential information, support and understanding to women in the Republic of Ireland, who are being subjected to domestic abuse including coercive control.

The Helpline aims to empower women to identify what is happening for them within their relationship. It aims to support them to stay safe and support the safety of any children living within the relationship. The Helpline aims to at all times ensure that the responsibility for the abuse is placed firmly with the perpetrator of the abuse and not with the woman.

The Helpline also acts as a gateway to the Women’s Aid Face-to-Face Services, local domestic violence refuges and support services, legal aid and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, which are helpful to women being subjected to abuse.

Why volunteer?

“A wonderful eye opening and inspiring experience.”
Women’s Aid Helpline volunteer

Our Helpline volunteers are committed and dedicated individuals. Their contribution to Women’s Aid is vital to the high quality support and information that Women’s Aid provides to those who contact our service.

For many of those who contact the Helpline, the volunteer who responds may be the first person they have told about their abuse. It may have taken years to finally speak about their experience. Therefore, it is essential that the person who responds is able to listen to and support the caller, as well as provide them with accurate and appropriate information. The response they receive from the volunteer can mean that contacing the Helpline is the first step in the journey to a life free of violence.

Helpline volunteers give support in a non-judgmental, non-directive approach, and work from the model of self-help and mutual aid. This model of work is about empowering women who contact our service to make their own decisions rather than about “helping” them.

By volunteering you will:

  • Play a key role on the Helpline which supports those experiencing abuse in Ireland.
  • Join a team of committed and dynamic volunteers.
  • Develop an understanding of domestic violence through in-depth training and continued vital support while volunteering on the Helpline.

If an application is successful, candidates will be asked to make themselves available for an interview.

If you are offered a training place to volunteer on the Women’s Aid Helpline, we will ask you to provide 2 written references.

The Helpline Volunteer Training includes a number of modules which allow volunteers space to learn and think about the issue of domestic violence including the root causes of domestic violence, the range of effects of domestic violence on women and children, obstacles and options for women seeking help ,and listening and support skills.

The training involves a significant time commitment and takes place on Saturdays and evenings (5 x Saturdays and 4 x evenings).

It is carried out in collaboration with the Women’s Aid Training and Development and the National Helpline Department.

Women’s Aid Helpline Training has an excellent reputation and is recognised as one of the best given by a Domestic Violence Service Provider in the Republic of Ireland.

Following successful completion of the training, volunteers undergo a comprehensive induction on to the Helpline before supporting women.

The requirement thereafter is one shift per week for a minimum of two years, following training.

The Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline is co-ordinated by the National Helpline Manager and the National Volunteer Co-ordinator. Women’s Aid recognises and acknowledges how difficult the work can be and there is consistent support available to enable volunteers to continue the work.

An on-call and debrief space is available to all volunteers. Monthly support and supervision meetings are held with all volunteers to provide extra support. Monthly meetings also include outside inputs to continue building on volunteers’ skills base.

Our volunteers are women who are over 18 years of age, have a warm empathic manner, are good listeners with fluent English (essential) and who have an interest in the issue of domestic violence.

Recruitment is now closed but for more information on volunteering please contact National Volunteer Coordinator Laura Brennan at laurab@womensaid.ie.

Investing in Volunteers Accreditation

The Women’s Aid Volunteer Programme has achieved The Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Award is the UK & Ireland quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.

Read more

Volunteer with the charity shop

Our charity shop is an important element of our fundraising. Apply to volunteer in our charity shop, located in Dundrum, Dublin 14.

More information about our charity shop