By Sue Johns, Service Delivery Manager at Victim Support
Can you spare some time to help witnesses at court?
If you have given evidence in a criminal court in the past ten years you’ve probably met a Witness Service volunteer.
The Witness Service is part of Victim Support, the national charity which offers support and advice to victims and witnesses of crime. We work in Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court and all the other criminal courts in Gwent and our role is to support anyone who comes to court as a witness.
We don’t offer legal advice or talk about individual cases but we provide a friendly face, practical help and information and emotional support at what can be a very difficult and stressful time.
The work of the criminal courts is very varied, ranging from burglaries and drug offences to rapes and murder so no two days are the same for volunteers in the Witness Service. One day you could be supporting a distressed young woman who is a victim of domestic violence, another day a frightened elderly man who witnessed a break- in at his neighbour’s house and the next day the family of a murder victim.
When witnesses arrive at court we take them to a waiting room where they feel safe and secure, we show them the courtroom and explain what will happen when they give their evidence and generally do what we can to help them feel at ease, maybe just chatting over a coffee while they wait.
Often we go into court with them while they give their evidence and we’re there for them when they come out, whether they are upset, angry or just relieved it’s over. Some witnesses choose to come to court before the date of the trial so that we can show them the courtroom and explain what to expect when the trial happens.
Victim Support is a professional organisation and people who volunteer with us get lots of interesting and enjoyable training and ongoing support and supervision. Our volunteers are kind, compassionate people who want to help others. They are good listeners who understand the need for complete confidentiality. And they all find the work really rewarding.
From time to time we recruit new volunteers so if you have time to spare, are interested in our work and think you may have the skills and qualities we need, please contact us for an informal discussion.
Sue Johns: 01633 222826 or sue.johns@victimsupport.org.uk
Gill Lewis: 02920 886900 or gill.lewis@victimsupport.org.uk
For further information go to www.victimsupport.org.uk