Share the Load – The DPJ Foundation
The DPJ Foundation is the leading mental health charity working with farmers and those in the agricultural community in Wales.
Since being founded in 2016, the DPJ Foundation has successfully raised the profile of health and well-being issues in the agricultural community and introduced innovative services such as “Share the Load” and Agriculture-focused Mental Health Awareness Training.
Be there for people who need someone.
As a Share the Load volunteer you’ll answer calls and messages from people who really need someone to talk to. They might be feeling at their lowest ebb, or they may be lonely and have no-one else to turn to.
Who are we looking for:
We are looking for people who are able to listen, without judging, and who are able to offer support when someone most needs it.
Your ideal volunteer will be:
Open-minded: willing and able to understand someone else’s point of view even if it is very different to yours
Discreet: The farming world is small; you will keep any information that you are told confidential and will not share details about any of the callers
Empathetic: able to share another person’s feeling; to see things through their eyes
Accepting: able to take each caller on their own terms and not discriminate against anyone for any reason
Supportive: supportive and friendly as you will be an ambassador for the DPJ Foundation
Resilient: some calls may be emotional and may trigger your own past history. Volunteers need to be strong enough to handle these emotions
You must be:
Personally resilient and able to cope with speaking to people who are vulnerable (but we will give you the training to know how to handle these conversations)
Understanding of farming life and appreciate some of the challenges this brings
Time commitment: Each month volunteers take part in a monthly rota. They usually volunteer for one 8 hours shift a week and during that shift the volunteer can carry on with their normal life, provided they are able to stop to take a call if one is received. Not all shifts receive a call each week. A longer term time commitment of 1 year.
Expenses reimbursed: Reasonable expenses are reimbursed in line with organisation policy. If volunteering over 4 hours, a lunch expense will be reimbursed.
Training provided: You will receive training delivered by the Samaritans which will prepare you to have conversations with vulnerable callers. You will also receive our in-house Mental Health Awareness and suicide prevention training. You will also receive a buddy who will be an experienced volunteer who will be available if you need them during your first shifts and after you have been volunteering for a while. You will also receive support from a wider community of volunteer as well as from the Charity Manager.
You will need to be available to attend the Samaritans Training that is delivered online between 9.30am – 4.30pm. Training dates are monthly and we will let you know these dates.
Selection procedure: Informal discussion, application form completion, a disclosure and barring check (cost met by organisation). If you have a criminal record, it won’t necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer as we will consider each case individually
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact us using the form below.