When We Need You

From 04/03/2005 onwards

About Opportunity

Witness Service Volunteers offeSupport help and information to witnesses and their families who attend Airdrie, Hamilton or Lanark Sherriff Courts. Volunteers of 18 years of age and over; attend a four-day initial training programme with further training and support provided during their time with the service. Volunteers work on a rotat basis during court time, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.30 pm. After training, all volunteers are asked to commit to working a minimum of one day per fortnight or two mornings. The work of the volunteers can vary from spending a whole day with one witness or family, to five minutes with each witness giving information, being with someone when they give evidence in Court, or waiting for them when they come out after giving evidence. A lot of the volunteers' time is pent by being supportive to people while they wait to give evidence. Travel expenses are paid to and from the court at public transport rates and if you are required in the afternoon lunch is provided. The Witness Service office is based in the Court and is managed by a Co-ordinator and Assistant Co-ordinators. Witness Service Staff and Volunteers DO NOT TALK ABOUT ANY EVIDENCE. Our aim is to provide the highest proffesional standars in our work and we operate whitn a Code of Conduct. We attach great importance to training and development and aim to ensure that all our volunteers are properly equiped for the work they undertake. Witness Service is run by Victim Support Scotland the national charity working for people affected by crime and is staffed mainly by volteers