EDAS is seeking to train empathetic, enthusiastic and motivated individuals to help support our projects across the local area. If you have time to spare and are looking for a rewarding opportunity to help young people and adults in your local community who are affected by addictions and/or mental distress, please contact us on 01202 735777.
I arrived form London eight years ago, I was a service user in the Dorset area, 3 years ago I decided to become a Counsellor, I engaged with Bournemouth and Poole college, my last year of Diploma I had to find a placement, to be honest addiction was my last option.
I went along to EDAS just to find out the process of becoming a volunteer; looking back I had an arrogant attitude, as I did not want to do any more training. However, I started to see organizational points of view, plus I would accumulate the necessary Drug and Alcohol Occupational Standards DANOS which I would need if I wanted to key work in addiction.
I was accepted at interview, and then a pack followed, with job description, course content, policies and procedures, I started to feel safe and well supported, the course was one evening a week for 16 weeks, it was a lot of fun also I began to realise that I new a lot about taking drugs, but learnt in-depth about the physical, psychological effects, gained awareness of health issues associated with substance misuse, family impact, assessing and care planning the list was endless. Nevertheless, my formal training ended and the real training started, as I entered the EDAS centre and started to engage with clients.
As I gain more confidence I then had three service users allocated to me with 12 sessions attached, I also showed a keen interest in the groups which run at EDAS every day. “I love it here” there are 34 other volunteer from very divers backgrounds; we have our own meeting, representative, on going training and professional supervision every four weeks. I feel valued, hared and supported; EDAS helped me to achieve my full potential I then found employment in the field, not wanting to leave the service I changed my shift to the evening, I was asked if there would be a conflict of interest, the answer was clearly no, this is an additional thing that makes EDAS so divers, as some many of us work in the field of addiction with other providers, therefore, making a wonderful integrated service where the clients are held at the centre.
