Volunteer with The Alder Centre

We offer a range of volunteer services at The Alder Centre and our volunteers, all bereaved themselves, are a much valued part of our team.

Do you feel you would you like to get involved and Volunteer with The Alder Centre?

Help us by supporting our work caring for anyone affected by the death of a child.

We have a range of volunteer roles available:

• Welcomers: in the Heartspace
• supporting group activities
• on the Child Death Helpline
• as Befrienders
• Supporting our remembrance events and therapeutic breaks

Welcomers: in the Heartspace

Our Welcomers provide a warm, friendly welcome and hospitality for visitors to The Alder Centre.

Welcomers may have experienced the death of a child, and will be sensitive to the needs of those who are bereaved. They will be able to provide a listening ear when needed and provide information about services where appropriate. Welcomers will direct visitors as needed and liaise with Alder Centre Staff.

Following a short training course, we are asking Welcomer Volunteers to offer 3-4 hours per week, giving visitors and clients a warm welcome and hospitality on weekday mornings and afternoons, and occasionally in the evening or on a weekend.

Supporting Group Activities

Once our centre is back open and restrictions allow, we hope to offer a variety of support and activity groups for anyone bereaved through child loss. These may include craft groups, candle making, gardening, cooking/ baking, dancing! We are open to ideas and would love to hear from you if you have a skill or interest that you would like to volunteer and share with other bereaved people. We are looking for both regular and one off group events and activities.

We also provided support groups, delivered by our counsellors but supported by bereaved volunteers.

Child Death Helpline

A helpline for all those affected by the death of a child of any age

Our Child Death Helpline is a quality, Freephone service for anyone affected by the death of a child of any age – whether they are parents, grandparents, siblings, family members, friends or involved professionals. The helpline is delivered by our trained volunteers, all of them bereaved parents.

Potential volunteers must be bereaved parents whose child died at least three years ago.

Following an initial training course of 30 hours, volunteers would be expected to undertake two helpline duties a month, providing a listening ear for callers who are bereaved through child loss.

The Child Death Helpline of provided in partnership with colleagues at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

For more information on the Child Death Helpline visit the website.

Befrienders

A number of our Child Death Helpline volunteers also provide befriending support.

Befrienders have experienced the death of a child and are specially trained and supervised to work with the newly bereaved

Befrienders meet with bereaved parents to offer a listening ear and peer support. Our  befriending services can be offered online, via telephone, or in person at The Alder Centre.

Remembrance events & Therapeutic break

Annually, we hold various events which our wonderful volunteers support. Our Candle Service held at Liverpool Cathedral is a beautiful event to reflect and remember and is planned and co-ordinated in partnership between bereaved volunteers and Alder Centre professionals.

Our Therapeutic Break is an annual weekend away for families, individual parents, adults and children to meet other bereaved families. The weekend is supported by trained volunteers.

Further information

For more information or to apply contact the Volunteer Coordinator by calling 0151 252 5391, emailing [email protected]