8.2 What is signposting and why is it important?
A signpost is a sign giving information such as the direction and distance to a nearby town, typically found at a road junction. It enables travellers to know how to get to their destination; the direction they need to go and how far they have to travel. An important part of your volunteering role is to direct clients to other organisations and individuals who will be able to assist them with their legal problem(s). You are working as a signpost, showing them where to go and what they need to do to get there.
Support Through Court has a very clearly defined role in helping those attending court with no legal representation. As a volunteer you provide emotional and practical support to clients throughout the court process, helping them to represent themselves with dignity and supporting them to fully take part in court to better access justice. This may include providing procedural information, explaining what will happen in court, helping people to fill out complicated legal forms and supporting them as they plan what they would like to say to the judge.
Activity 1
Please use the green highlighter to identify the things you can do as a volunteer.
Please use the red highlighter to identify the things you cannot do as a volunteer.
How to use the highlighter
Click on the colour you want to use and then drag your cursor over the text you want to highlight. The return arrow icon erases the single last highlighting you did. If you want to clear all of your highlighting use the Reset button. When you have completed all of your highlighting click on the Save button. To check your answers click on Reveal answer.
Comment
There are a number of things that you are not able to do for a client as a Support through Court volunteer. The most obvious one is to give legal advice. Nor can you represent people in court hearings. These are legal activities regulated by specific professional bodies. Neither can you offer specialist advice regarding specific issues the client is facing. Your role is to offer advice and guidance about the court processes. Finally, although you are offering emotional support to clients, you are not there to offer wider ranging pastoral support for the, often significant, issues they are facing in their lives.
This is where signposting becomes important. In your role you can point clients in the direction of other people and organisations that can help with the issues you are unable to assist with such as legal advice, specialist information or ongoing emotional and pastoral support.
8. 1 Introduction