It's the "with life experience" that Victim Services Wellington is stressing as it attempts to boost its volunteer ranks.
Executive Director Liz Kent said the organization's volunteer ranks are lower than normal, particularly when it comes to older volunteers who have some life experience behind them.
Victim Services responds to 1,300 to 1,500 emergencies and tragedies throughout Wellington County every year. They do so with the help of up to 100 volunteers, but right now they are sitting at 60.
"We have a lot of young volunteers," Kent said. "We'd like to get some mature individuals with life experience: retired individuals or ones who work part-time and can help us, particularly with our daytime coverage."
Victim Services Wellington gets lots of applications from young volunteers looking to be police officers in the future or university students.
While Kent said their enthusiasm and abilities are welcomed, you can't teach life experience.
"It can be really difficult for victims when two people in their 20s show up and you've just lost you're husband of 60 years," Kent said of the role an older, mature person can play that a younger one might not be able to.
The service already has lots of retired nurses, bankers, teachers, principals and firefighters. They'd like more of the same.
Volunteers must commit to at least one year and take training that includes roughly 45 hours of on-line courses and eight, three-hour in-class sessions.
Victim Services offers a wide range of services and support. The volunteers are generally there as first responders for the organization when requested by police.
Much of their work revolves around tragedy: homicides, car accidents, fires, domestic assaults and they are often called to the scene or to the hospital.
"The victim has to want us there," Kent explains. "But it can be any crime, any tragic circumstance."
The volunteers offer comfort and guidance as to what comes next. Much of it involves referral to appropriate agencies.
"It's not an easy job. We're usually meeting people at their worst moment, people who have lost a child or a loved one," Kent said. "It does take a certain kind of person."
Volunteers are required to be on-call for four shifts a month and that includes potential overnight shifts. They must have a car, e-mail and a cell phone.
For further information and to apply online, go to www.vswguelph.on.ca.
