- Have you been impacted by suicide loss?
- Do you have a desire to help others?
- Are you comfortable with listening to people with similar experiences?
We are looking for compassionate volunteers to support an existing group in Portswood.
How do groups work?
SoBS groups usually meet once a month for around 2 hours, providing people with an opportunity to listen, share, ask questions, and connect with others. We know how hard it is to talk about our loss, so we create spaces where people just “get it”.
Each group is run by a team of three volunteers who have all been bereaved by suicide themselves. Their role is facilitating meetings, group administration, fundraising and communication for the group as a team. All volunteers are provided with full training before they begin the role and receive support from head office throughout their volunteering journey.
There is no set structure to a meeting – people are free to talk and listen as much or as little as they want. Topics discussed vary from month to month but often include people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Established groups may occasionally organise guest speakers, go on walks, or arrange craft workshops.
What will I be doing?
As a Group Facilitator, you’ll support a group of adults who have been impacted by suicide loss in an informal peer-support group. SoBS groups are therapeutic spaces, but this isn’t a counselling role. You’ll be focused on creating & maintaining a safe and inviting atmosphere, keeping conversation flowing, and helping people to connect.
- Facilitate group sessions – meeting survivors, starting off conversations, allowing space for people to talk (if they want to), and looking out for others.
- Shared administration tasks – managing enquiries from survivors, sending out updates, and submitting information to the national office.
- Provide signposting to SoBS head office, as well as other local charities and services.
You don’t need any qualifications to be a Group Facilitator, but lived experience is essential. We ask that our volunteers:
- Are over the age of 18 and have the legal right to volunteer in the UK.
- Have been impacted by suicide loss. We recognise the ripples are far reaching, you may have lost a close family member, a colleague, or an old friend you kept up with on Facebook
- Were bereaved over two years ago, so there’s been some time to process and come to terms with your loss
- Feel ready to begin supporting others, and are comfortable with listening to the stories and experiences of others who
Other helpful qualities include:
- To be friendly, trustworthy, and approachable, with good active listening skills.
- Comfortable listening to and supporting people through all the emotions of grief and loss.
- A respectful, sensitive, and non-judgemental approach to people.
- An understanding that there are no right or wrong ways to grieve.
- Good communication skills.
- A drive to support your community.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide welcomes people of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments that enable volunteers with disabilities to access our opportunities.
As a group facilitator, you will play a vital role in supporting others bereaved by suicide. If you are passionate about supporting others through their grief journey, please do apply.
To find out more about us, please visit our website at www.uksobs.com