The Victims and Witnesses of Crime Support Group started operations in the city last week, having made a call for volunteers for the service in December last year.

Subsequently six volunteers went to Sydney for intensive training with the organisation, with three working out of Bathurst and the other three joining existing volunteers in Orange.

President and director of the organisation Pieta Thornton said it was fantastic the organisation now had a presence in Bathurst.

The organisation has had a base in Orange for a number of years and will now rotate its volunteers between the two cities depending on need.

Retired teacher Wendy Hastings is one of the volunteers working with the organisation in Bathurst. She applied to volunteer after reading about the work the service provides in the Western Advocate.

“As a retired person I was looking at ways I could still contribute to the community when I saw the article in the paper,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in social justice, and working with people who need support was something that really appealed to me.”

Mrs Hastings spoke highly of the organisation’s training course, describing it as ‘very intensive’ which included eight days in Sydney and 20 hours of court observation.

Run entirely by volunteers, the organisation also has a strong presence in the Downing Centre, Parramatta Children’s Court, local and district court as well as in Orange Courthouse. 

The organisation assists victims and witnesses of crime through the court process, informing of their role, what they are there for and preparing them for the experience of testifying.

Volunteers inform witnesses and victims of crime of their rights, accompany them to court and simply sit there with them if they wish. 

Ms Thorton said it could be as simple as explaining legal terminology or what was happening in the court.

The organisation began in 2006 with eight volunteers and now has over 140 volunteers. Anyone wishing to utilise the service can call VWCCS on 9287 7671.