Getting Involved

Who can volunteer?
Any student from Leeds University or Leeds Met can join Nightline. No experience is required as comprehensive training is provided, and we welcome volunteer regardless of course background, sex, sexual orientation and disability.

What time commitment will I have to make?
Volunteers staff the phone lines for a minimum of three nights a term from 8pm to 8am, and help out at awareness days at least once a term. New volunteers are trained over two weeks in October, during 7 compulsory training sessions totalling approximately 25 hours.

What does training involve?
Nightline training is designed to prepare you for handling any call you might receive as a volunteer. Volunteers are trained in small groups by experienced Nightliners who have been specifically trained themselves. During training, volunteers develop an understanding of good listening skills, information giving, and Nightlines principles, and they learn how to apply these to the wide range of situations they may face during a call.

What would my responsibilities be?
To attend training sessions
To be reliable and committed volunteer
To maintain confidentiality and anonymity
To be non-judgemental, non-directive and non-advisory when volunteering
To support other volunteers
To attend meetings and events
To help promote the Nightline services

What do I get out of it?
Listening and Communication skills and training
Information finding skills and training
Knowledge of student life in Leeds
The experience of being a part of a supportive and sociable team.

Further Opportunities
There are many ways to become involved in Nightline and develop your skills further. You could join the Nightline Co-ordinating Team and have a big hand in the running of the organisation. Or there is the Support Team that ensures that volunteers are supported and informed. If you have original ideas about promoting the service, you could join the Publicity Team. Leeds regularly hosts conferences for Nightlines from other universities; joining the Conference Team means you can help organise these. Finally, you could become a trainer and be a valuable part of the team that prepares the new volunteers.

Being part of Nightline is a rewarding, worthwhile and valuable experience. Email training.leedsnightline@hotmail.co.uk for more details!