Volunteer for Shout

Shout is the UK’s only free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. When people text 'Shout' to 85258, they will be connected to a Shout Volunteer for a text conversation. Our volunteers provide a safe space for people to share what's causing them distress, while showing warmth and compassion.

Please note - applications will be reopened in January 2025. Please register your interest for the new year and a member of the team will be in touch when applications are open. Thanks for your support.

Volunteering for Shout

Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. They’re incredible people who have taken more than 2.8 million conversations with 900,000 texters who are anxious, lonely or suicidal and who need urgent support. We recruit volunteers throughout the year, and we’d love you to join our team.

As a Shout Volunteer, you’ll have text conversations with young people and adults. The role is fully flexible and can be done from the comfort of your own home. The service is available 24/7 so you can volunteer at a time that suits you.

Your role is to be there for in the moment for someone in distress, and to listen without judgement.

Why volunteer?

Shout Volunteers come from all walks of life and for many reasons. We could not run Shout without them.

The role is rewarding and can save lives. Shout Volunteers tell us they gain a sense of pride, satisfaction and purpose from taking conversations. They also tell us their own wellbeing increases, that they learn valuable skills and gain experience they can use at work and in their personal lives.

In addition, you are joining a friendly and supportive community of other volunteers, where you can make lifelong friendships, connecting with other volunteers through our online portal and at occasional in-person events.

Volunteering can also be a great addition to your CV. You do not need to have any past experience in mental health to be a Shout Volunteer - we’ll provide you with all the training and support you need to do the role.

About You

You’ll be kind and compassionate, a good listener, and have the ability to remain calm when supporting people in crisis. You will also:

• Understand the difference between being friendly and being a friend
• Be aware of your own mental health and wellbeing
• Be open-minded
• Be supportive
• Be reliable
• Be discreet and able to hold confidentiality
• Be accepting and non-judgemental
• Be passionate about contributing some of your time to a cause such as Shout
• Adopt a growth mindset, and be willing to accept feedback

You must live in the United Kingdom or New Zealand and be over 18 years of age. You will need a reliable internet connection and a private place to take your shift. All of your volunteering must be done using a laptop or desktop computer and Google Chrome.

Commitment

It costs Shout £250 to train every new volunteer to take life-saving conversations, which is why we ask you to commit to volunteering for a minimum of 200 hours.

How you choose to give these hours is totally up to you and many volunteers choose to stay with us for much longer.

Resilience

It’s natural to worry about whether you’re able to do the role, but our Volunteer Training and Support teams will be with you every step of the way. However, it’s worth spending time thinking about the nature of the role, and whether it’s right for you.

Before you apply, please consider whether either of the following applies to you:

• You recently experienced grief, loss or change issue/s, for example; someone close to you has been ill or has died, you’ve lost your job, your relationship has ended
• Your current circumstances in relation to your own mental health and wellbeing are such that the stress and pressure of listening to the challenges of others would bring additional burden to you personally

Application

Our team is on hand to answer any questions you have while filling out your application. Once you’ve submitted this and provided two references, it will be reviewed. You’ll usually hear from us within four weeks.

Apply now

Training and support

If your application is successful, you’ll be enrolled in a training group. New groups start every two weeks.

Shout Volunteers receive 25 hours of free training in communication, listening, managing and assessing risk and problem solving. The training is self-paced and done online. You’ll learn how to bring people in distress to a place of calm and practice skills that will be useful to you throughout life.

• Commitment: complete 25 hours of training within six weeks
• Training: can be accessed using a computer and Google Chrome
• Practising: you’ll complete activities and simulated conversations, receiving a pass grade before moving on to the next stage

Our Volunteer Training Support team is here to support you, answer any questions and provide feedback during training and throughout your time with Shout. You’ll be joining an incredibly supportive volunteer community and have access to the resources you need to do your role.

While you're training, we’ll conduct a background check, which you won’t be able to start volunteering without.

As volunteers, you’ll be supporting people in distress, so it’s important that we see the skills required in training. While most trainees complete the training and go onto volunteer, not everyone will pass the training. If this happens, there are other ways you can still support us.