Volunteer Training

Volunteers do not need any previous experience. Full training is provided. The Volunteer Training Programme is unique, and has been developed over more than 10 years. It has been accredited by the Open College Network, and endorsed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. In 2002, the programme received a National Training Award in recognition of its quality and value in helping SANE meet its goal of providing a national, out of hours mental health helpline. SANEline's training team are highly experienced professionals with a range of knowledge and skills in the field of mental health and training.

As a potential volunteer, you will learn to provide effective support and information for callers. The training programme includes:

• Effective listening and call-handling skills; responding to callers who may be suicidal, psychotic, or caring for someone with a mental illness
• Providing appropriate information, using the SANEline Information Database, to give callers options for action
• Mental health awareness, including major illnesses, symptoms and treatments, and how mental health problems affect individuals and carers/relatives
• The UK mental health system; how it works, roles of mental health professionals and the basics of mental health law
• Treatments; medication and side effects; complementary therapy, psychotherapy and talking treatments

The SANEline Volunteer Training Programme begins with a 5 day Introductory Course that takes place during weekends.

Why volunteer for SANEline?

Volunteering can be a truly rewarding experience and, at SANEline, volunteers provide an invaluable support service to those often ignored and stigmatised by the rest of society. As well as receiving the full training in all the skills listed above, many SANEline Volunteers feel that they have gained from the experience, for example, in the following ways:

• increasing their own and others mental health awareness
• gaining perspective into different situations, enabling personal insight and growth
• considering a career change or applying to do a course
• talking to people from all walks of life
• meeting and socialising with other volunteers
• attending ongoing training sessions and talks on a variety of topics
• the opportunity to be involved in other areas of the charity, such as fundraising or awareness
• For entry to some further and higher education courses, OCN credits will be taken into account as evidence of prior learning, and may exempt students from some elements of a course. Our credits are set at NVQ3 standard, which is equivalent to A level/university entrance standard.
• Some counselling courses will count work on helpline shifts as a proportion of the practice placement requirement.

Please note, SANEline will reimburse volunteer travel expenses and can provide a reference once you are fully qualified.

Continue to step 3