WELLINGTON COUNTY – Volunteering can be a rewarding experience for many, especially when it involves helping others heal from tragic or harmful circumstances.
That’s exactly what lending a helping hand at Victim Services Wellington (VSW) is all about.
VSW is an organization created to provide support for victims who need time to heal from various situations.
It’s been operating since 1997 and is open 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
“We work in partnership with emergency services,” VSW executive director Elizabeth Kent told the Advertiser.
“We get referrals from Wellington County [OPP], Guelph Police Service, fires, hospitals and also self-referrals.”
Staff and volunteers at VSW aid people affected by crime and tragic circumstances, including:
- sexual assault;
- domestic violence;
- homicide;
- arson and fire incidents;
- personal injury;
- missing persons;
- robbery;
- bereavement; and
- harassment/stalking incidents.
“Before COVID we had 40-plus volunteers and we’re down to around 18 in the county,” Kent explained.
“I think people are struggling financially and I think grandparents are having to help their children with daycare.”
She noted the decrease in volunteers could also be due to retirees having to work part-time jobs.
“I think the increased cost of living really changed the volunteer landscape and we’re not the only agency seeing it,” Kent said.
She noted there has been “drastic” changes in volunteer numbers in Guelph as well, which went from 80 to 32 volunteers post-pandemic.
“We were able to build the volunteer pool back up in the city but are having a hard time building it in the county,” Kent said.
Training
Those who join must go through a five-week training process that includes e-learning modules and in-person lessons.
“The training is a lot, I’m not going to lie,” she said. “A lot of people think you have to have a background in social work, you don’t.”
Once training is complete, the agency asks volunteers to work four eight-hour shifts per month.
“Sudden death is our highest calls so whether that be of natural causes or suicide,” she explained.
Volunteers get trained on grief and bereavement and also visit funeral homes to gain an understanding of the process.
Following close behind sudden deaths is domestic violence.
“That may look like us being called in to arrange transportation to safety, it may be that the volunteers are calling the staff to get locks changed,” she said.
Volunteers only arrive on scene once it has been deemed safe by emergency services.
According to Kent, those affected by trauma recover faster if the first four hours after an incident is a positive experience.
Active volunteer
Kim Platt has been volunteering with VSW for six months.
“It’s a very worthwhile and important organization; you tend to be able to help people …. on maybe the worst day of their lives,” Platt said.
She completed her training in the fall and said it was “very comprehensive and reassuring.”
Platt felt well-positioned and confident as she responded to her first call with little to no nerves.
As a safety precaution, volunteers travel in pairs and will not be assigned to cases they deem uncomfortable.
“The organization is very flexible in that sense,” she said.
According to Platt, volunteers are not expected to go on call and be a counsellor, but to be the bridge between helpful resources.
“We’re not the problem solvers, we are just there to help guide people when they are experiencing a very traumatic situation,” she explained.
“The important things that we do in our lives are not necessarily always the easiest things to do,” Platt said.
“If you have compassion for people this is a great place for you to volunteer.”
To apply and for more information, visit the VSW website at vswguelph.on.ca.
