What you'll be doing:

• Help open, welcome guests, make the space comfortable, and close up at the end of a shift.
• Offer compassionate conversation and peer connection; listen without judgment and without trying to fix someone.
• When appropriate, draw on your own lived experience in a purposeful way, without assuming another person’s experience is the same.
• Support guests to explore their own options for staying safe and connecting with other services, in line with Safe Space guidelines and with consent where required.
• Work alongside the volunteer team; follow agreed staffing and safety arrangements, including safe and respectful language, and limits on one-to-one support when staffing is insufficient.
• Complete brief shift-related tasks and any follow-up calls requested by a guest, in line with procedures.
• Protect privacy, follow operational guidelines and raise concerns with the designated contact.

Why this matters:

• Shining Hope is a local, community-led organisation supporting people affected by suicide. Our Hope House Safe Space offers a welcoming, non-clinical environment where people experiencing suicidal distress can connect with others who understand.
• Our volunteers help make this possible. By offering compassion, genuine human connection and the perspective of lived experience, they help people feel heard, less alone and supported to explore their options.
• You don't have to fix someone's problems. Sometimes, simply being there and listening can make a meaningful difference.

The best bit?

You'll join a supportive team of people who understand the value of lived experience and looking after one another. Shining Hope provides:

• FREE Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and access to other training as desired, relevant and appropriate..
• A National Police Clearance paid for by Shining Hope.
• Peer supervision, mentoring and ongoing guidance.
• Opportunities to develop your skills and confidence.
• Flexibility, with a minimum commitment of just 3 hours per month. You'll also have the opportunity to connect with others, contribute to your community and use your lived experience in a meaningful way.

About You:

We're looking for people with a lived experience of suicide who are compassionate, open-minded and comfortable listening to others. You might have experienced suicidal thoughts yourself, supported someone through a suicidal crisis, or lost someone to suicide. You don't need formal mental health qualifications or previous volunteering experience. What matters is that you:

• Can listen without judgment or trying to fix things.
• Respect other people's experiences, choices and privacy.
• Feel comfortable talking about suicide and can do that safely and respectfully.
• Can work as part of a team and follow safety guidelines.
• Understand your own wellbeing needs and are willing to seek support when needed. We'll provide the training, mentoring and guidance you need. You bring yourself and your lived experience.