Shirley Thomson volunteers with The Listening Service
I VOLUNTEER with The Listening Service in Edinburgh and have done so since June.
I am part of a small team of volunteers who attend the court daily to be an approachable face who will listen to any anxieties those attending court may have. There are usually three volunteers on at a time. I volunteer for two to three sessions a month.
The role can involve finding out information for court users or directing them to where to go to access advice. The court can be an overwhelming environment and can feel very intimidating to court users.
Many people attending court have not met with their solicitor and do not know how their legal representative will find them. We can advise and reassure individuals that as long as they are waiting outside the correct court, their solicitor will find them.
Court users usually have a letter asking them to present at court at 9.30am. This is not an appointment and everyone is asked to arrive at the same time, which can involve a lengthy and unexpected wait for people. We can help by explaining this to them.
Lots of different people attend court, not just those accused of a crime. Witnesses for both prosecution and defence attend, along with those supporting the accused. At the Listening Service we are available to listen to anyone who is attending the court whatever their reason.
I was inspired to take up
this role because an elderly relative of mine became involved with the criminal justice system for a minor traffic offence. The stress on this family member was unimaginable and the length of time until the whole process was completed only prolonged the agony she experienced. It was also a very expensive process to retain legal representation.
I have previously worked in an emergency night shelter where residents had a history of mental health difficulties, drug and/or alcohol issues. All these groups are over-represented in the criminal justice system, leading often to a cyclical pattern of offending which can be difficult to break.
I had not previously volunteered but felt my experience would be an asset to The Listening Service. I enjoy the voluntary role as I feel I am giving back to society albeit in a small way. I have two daughters aged 23 and 20 and believe my volunteering offers them a positive role model in terms of paying your gifts/talents forward. One of the wider benefits of volunteering in this role is that it frees up very busy court staff to carry on with their valuable work. They know we are in the court to offer sign-posting and a listening ear to court users.
The diversity of court users and their reaction to the court process is wide and varied, making no two shifts the same. It is a fascinating system and I enjoy playing a small part in it. I would highly recommend volunteering to anyone considering it. It’s a genuinely rewarding experience.
To find out more about volunteering with The Listening Service Edinburgh, see listeningservice.org/volunteer
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