A woman from Derry has spoken about how her role as a volunteer allows her to contribute to a "brighter, less fearful future" for the children and families she supports.
Kim Doherty, 49, volunteers for the NSPCC's Young Witness Service, which is based in Northern Ireland and is the only one of its kind in the UK, and assists children and young people under 18 years old who have to attend court as prosecution witnesses.
It operates in Derry’s Bishop Street, Strabane, Coleraine and every other local crown, magistrates’ and youth court in Northern Ireland.
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Kim began volunteering for the service in May 2021. The mum-of-four and grandmother-of-two explained what sparked her interest in volunteering.
She said: “I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 12 years ago so sustaining a full time work career isn’t feasible at times. I also lost my partner of six years in 2019, and throughout lockdown I wanted to find something to help my confidence and find my feet again.”
Talking about training and support for volunteers, Kim continued, “Due to Covid, training took place via zoom but was backed up via booklets, videos and chats with other volunteers. The laws governing child protection were discussed and explained thoroughly. Training was a good mix of fun too as the topics can be quite difficult.
“The support received on an ongoing basis is second to none. Regular welfare checks and de-briefings after cases are key to assisting us volunteers and every member of staff treats us with the upmost respect and care; our mental health as young witness supporters is paramount.”
Since the start of 2021, the service has offered support to over 300 young witnesses. Kim said helping children to "stand stall and speak their truth" keeps her motivated in he role.
She said: "The motivation for me is the fact that we act as a buffer to children and their families. We shield them from the harrowing scenes of encountering their perpetrators in court.
"We also liaise with the police and the prosecution service to allow children to steady themselves, breathe, stand tall and speak their truth, bravely and confidently and know they are being heard.
"The smiles of relief after are what makes it worthwhile to know they did it. Knowing the children and their families were supported with a friendly face makes all the difference.
"I was also surprised that not everything is black and white. Some families have been through the worst of experiences and still stand shoulder to shoulder.”
Kim added: “The tenacity of some of our kids is astonishing; despite the trauma they excel and are super ambitious for their future selves. They are phenomenal and also gracious for help negotiating the minefield of the legal system."
Billy Eagleson, who is Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Service, said: “Going to court can be a very intimidating and frightening experience for anyone but even more so for young people as it’s such a strange and unfamiliar environment.
"The Young Witness Service was set up because we recognised this and we wanted to be able to support children and young people who needed to attend court to give evidence. Since we started in 1999, we have recruited and trained a truly amazing group of volunteers who work alongside paid staff to support these children and young people.
"Our volunteers come from all walks of life and are at many different stages of their career, but we need more of them – and urgently.”
Billy continued: “The sort of support our volunteers can offer can be as straightforward as keeping a child company as there can be such a lot of waiting around during court cases.
"They can also chat to the children about the various court procedures and answer their questions. Sometimes, the young people we support are in court because something has been done to them by an adult who is a stranger or, often, by someone known to them.
"Sometimes, the relationship with the volunteer can be the first step to them rebuilding their confidence and trust in adults - the importance of this cannot be overestimated."
To anyone thinking of volunteering for the service, Kim added: "Just do it! We all need support in some area of our lives at some point. You could be that one person who listened and supported and ignited that spark of hope - what a legacy in itself.
"You will have all the support, encouragement, and training behind you. Why not step forward to hold a child’s hand and fan that flame to a brighter, less fearful future?!”
To become a volunteer, you need to have at least one year’s experience in a caring or supportive role, have availability during normal court operating hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) at least two days per month and must be able to commit to the role for at least one year after completion of training.
For more information about becoming a Young Witness volunteer and full role description, please visit the volunteer recruitment page or contact Billy Eagleson at Billy.Eagleson@NSPCC.org.uk or on 07825948244.
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