Donate Contact Us 0300 330 0630 Listen without judging We are a volunteer-led charity. Could you be one of our volunteers? Volunteering for Switchboard Do you want to give something back? Can you commit to six hours on the Switchboard every month? Are you able to listen? We have a small staff team 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. Listening Volunteer We open and close our applications according to training capacity allowance. Please check below to see whether we are currently accepting applications. 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 are ‘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. Applications are currently closed for listening volunteers. Please see our support volunteering opportunities or check back soon to see if we have additional training capacity. Support Volunteer 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 are ‘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. 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. See our latest Support Volunteering Opportunities You can apply to be a support volunteer at Switchboard by clicking the button below and filling out the subsequent form. Apply Now FAQ What do you look for in a volunteer? + What’s your typical volunteer like? + Do you have to be LGBT+ to volunteer? + How tough is it? Is there a test? + How are shifts organised? + What kind of commitment is asked of me? + I’m unwaged/have childcare. Can I be reimbursed expenses? + Where is Switchboard based? + Is there other volunteering work I can do for Switchboard apart from answering calls? + What's the application process like and how long does it usually take? + Page last updated at 11:19 12/11/2021 Switchboard PO Box 7324 London N1 9QS Switchboard LGBT+ Registered Charity 296193 About us How we can help Help when we’re closed Support Us Volunteer Contact / Complaints In the news Meet the Team Our celebrated patrons Supporting Organisations Media & Press Switchboard Shop Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Safe browsing page Feedback Form Vacancies Subscribe We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Privacy Policy Okay