We have only two paid members of staff (part-time administrators). We are nothing without our volunteers. They are our greatest asset.
At the moment we have only two paid members of staff (part-time administrators). All the other work that needs doing at Switchboard is done by our volunteers. Switchboard volunteers are our lifeblood – both on the phone and behind the scenes. They are our greatest asset.
Would you like to join us? We are always looking for new support. When people think of Switchboard they think of volunteers answering phones. But we also need volunteers behind the scene, helping to run Switchboard with skills such as training, PR, Marketing or IT.
For more information, read our FAQ below.
To be one of our Listening Volunteers ask yourself the following questions:
Do you want to give something back to the LGBT+ communities?
Can you commit to at least six hours for Switchboard every month?
Are you able to listen with empathy and without judging?
Are you interested in empowering others to make decisions for themselves?
If the answer to these is ‘yes’, then we would love to hear from you.
If you’re accepted, you take part in training sessions to develop your active listening skills. Through role plays and case studies as part of a guided course, you will learn in a supportive and fun environment. At the end of the course there’s an assessment, before you are allocated a mentor to assist you in taking calls in the phone room.
Being a volunteer for Switchboard is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling experience where no two shifts are ever quite the same. Volunteering with us allows you to make a real difference to the lives of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and trans people – and their families and friends. The interpersonal skills you acquire during the training aren’t just valuable in the phone room, you’ll probably find them coming in useful in other aspects of your life. You’ll also meet new people, learn from their experience and make an active contribution to the wider LGBT+ communities.
You can apply to become a volunteer at Switchboard by clicking the button below and filling out the subsequent form.
To be one of our Support Volunteers ask yourself the following questions:
Do you want to give something back to the LGBT+ communities?
Do you have a specialised skill – for example Training, PR, Marketing, Legal or IT?
Are you able to make a regular commitment to Switchboard?
If the answer to these is ‘yes’, then we would love to hear from you.
Being a Support Volunteer is just as important and valuable as being a Listening Volunteer. In order to keep answering calls, Switchboard needs to run efficiently and effectively. Perhaps you have a technical skill, or corporate experience, or have recently been on a course for professional development – and can apply some of those skills and experience to the successful running of Switchboard, now and for the future.
Historically, this has often been a more challenging area for us at Switchboard, so right now we want to actively encourage all of you who want to contribute behind the scenes. Please let us get to know you and the skills you have to offer. We’d be thrilled to welcome you!
All Support Volunteers are taken through an induction process with a mentor to familiarise themselves in how Switchboard operates.
We have recently overhauled how we look for volunteers who’ll help us with administrative work. We’ll be placing specific volunteering opportunities on our page at do-it.org, starting with someone to help us co-ordinate the new work that needs to be done.