Working on the front line with refugees is immensely rewarding - and can take you out at the knees. It's disturbing, upsetting, and emotionally and physically exhausting.  It's absolutely critical, therefore,  that you are emotionally and physically well to work with people who are having to cope with adversity which may  be extremely distressing, for them, and for you. If volunteers do not understand those impacts, they can come a cropper themselves, and can in fact do more harm than good to those they only wish to help.

There is already a move to provide support for both those volunteers who have been on the front line in France, or elsewhere; and to provide support and guidance for those who are considering it. You can find out more about the latter here. A new training is emerging for those who want to provide psychosocial support for people in crisis situation: you can find out more about the trainer, Helen Tanner, here.

And if you're interested in coming together and meeting other volunteers who have been out, to share your thoughts and experiences, an informal day in the woods is being planned shortly. Let us know here if you're interested and we'll keep you posted.