LifeLine New Volunteer Training 2012

More than 50 volunteers from around the world offer their time and care to provide telephone service for Lifeline. For many of them, an added benefit has been the venue for meeting like-minded individuals in Shanghai with the potential for building strong friendships. Lifeline extends the invitation to volunteer to anyone who meets the following qualifications:
 - 21 years of age or older
 - Fluent English
 - Experience with ex-pat issues/challenges (Six month residence in Shanghai is preferred)
 - The ability and willingness to listen and offer psychological support to others.
 - 10 hours of time per month to fulfill Lifeline commitments

A link for the volunteer application form is found on the home page of this website. After its completion and submission to the Lifeline office, the applicant will be interviewed for further screening. Those accepted will be given the details of the next training class.

To ensure quality and uniformity of service, all new volunteers are required to attend a three-day training. Full-time attendance is mandatory. The fee for the coverage of the training costs and meals is 500 RMB per trainee and is to be paid upon arrival the first day.

- An introduction to Lifeline and the Lifeline board
 - Lifeline code of ethics
 - Helping via the telephone
 - Communication skills
 - Role playing
 - Dealing with difficult calls
 - Ex-pat issues in Shanghai
 - Youth issues and Youthlink in Shanghai
 - Relationship difficulties
 - Crisis
 - Suicide prevention and intervention
 - Addictions
 - Loss, grief and bereavement
 - Mental Illness
 - Orientation to the role of a Lifeline volunteer
 - Peer support and supervision
 - Self-care


Throughout the training course, Lifeline training coordinators and trainers will evaluate the suitability of each trainee for working on the telephone line. After the successful completion of all of these activities, the trainees will receive a training attendance certification. Even though some trainees may not successfully meet the requirements for working on Lifeline, they will have gained beneficial information and skills that can be used in many other areas of life. The following is the schedule for the next new volunteer training for Lifeline.

Day 3: Saturday, February 25, 2012, 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m

During the intermittent week between the sessions, all trainees will be required to attend one buddy Lifeline shift (four hours in length) with an experienced volunteer. After the training is over, the trainee will be asked to sign up for one more buddy shift. The hotline training course is presented entirely by Lifeline volunteers. After a few months of experience on Lifeline, new volunteers who are interested in assisting with future volunteer training programs are encouraged to do so. Many opportunities for involvement exist in Lifeline. Please come and check them out!