BLACKBURN, Darwen and District Victim Support is appealing for people with a little spare time to help victims of crime.

Victim Support trains volunteers to visit crime victims in their own homes, offering emotional support and practical help and information for them and their families.

The comprehensive training courses covers issues as diverse as the emotional impact of crime, personal safety, crime prevention measures, police procedures and information about insurance and compensation.

Volunteers are expected to operate within the Victim Support Code of Practise and receive support and supervision from the scheme's coordinators.

The initial training course lasts six weeks - with further sessions once the volunteer has started to undertake visits.

Les James, senior co-ordinator of the Blackburn scheme said: "We urgently need more volunteers to enable us to respond to requests for support that we receive. No formal qualifications are required to be a volunteer, but we are looking for people who are good at listening and can demonstrate concern for the victim without becoming too emotionally involved."

He added: "We currently have 30 volunteers on our books and want to see that raised to 50."

Volunteers do not get paid but can claim travelling and other necessary expenses for the visits they do.

The next training course is due to commence on Wednesday, September 25 at 7pm. The sessions will be repeated on Thursday afternoons, commencing September 26 to give as many people as possible the chance to attend.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact either Les James, Julie Jones or Ismail Makda on 280442 or contact the scheme office in Richmond Chamber, Richmond Terrace, Blackburn.

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