A DEVASTATING attack on her son led to a Dulverton woman's first contact with the organisation Victim Support Somerset.

Now, some years after the assault, Lyn herself is a volunteer worker for the support charity, having been so impressed by the service offered to her family in their time of need.

And with 2001 being the International Year of Volunteering, Lyn is hoping her story will inspire others to give up their spare time for a good cause.

Lyn first joined Victim Support in 1994 when she was living in Weston-super-Mare, and on average deals with two or three victims of crime each week.

Nationally, the group helps 7,000 people each year - of those, almost 300 come from West Somerset. In contrast, West Somerset has just one Victim Support volunteer.

Lyn's story begins when her son was left fighting for his life after being slashed and badly injured.

She explained: "Victim Support was there to offer practical as well as emotional support to my son.

"Importantly, they listened, but they also helped with making arrangements for photographing his injuries, dealing with compensation forms, and all the other things you just can't think about at times like that."

But she was acutely aware that the Victim Support volunteer was not only helping her son, but providing invaluable support for herself too.

She said: "I had been working as a professional dealing with community issues, so I was used to dealing with problems, but the attack on my son hit me so hard.

"Seeing him fighting for his life had a huge impact on me. I knew I needed help for myself, but it was difficult to speak to the family because they were also emotionally upset.

"It was somehow easier to talk to someone completely detached from the situation. Once it was over, I knew I wanted to offer that kind of support to someone who may be as distressed as I was at that time."

While some victims of crime are able to get on with their lives straight away, others can take weeks, months or even years to recover, or even just to talk about how it has affected them.

But when help is needed, Victim Support Somerset is always on hand to offer information, practical help and advice as well as a sympathetic ear and a friendly face.

Pam Lloyd, Victim Support Somerset's area manager, said many of those helped by the charity's specially trained volunteers wanted to talk about the crime, while others wanted advice on personal safety and making their homes more secure.

But none of this would be possible without the unpaid volunteers who give up their time to provide the service.

Volunteers come from all walks of life and span a wide age range. They visit people in their homes, or wherever they feel most comfortable to talk.

Sometimes support is provided over the telephone, with involvement in each case lasting anything from one conversation to many meetings over several months.

Prospective volunteers simply need to be non-judgmental and able to listen, while all potential recruits are carefully vetted by police.

"Genuinely caring about people is more important than masses of qualifications, so people should not be put off by thinking they are not qualified to do this work," Lyn said.

However, not everyone makes the grade. Training is provided by members of Victim Support, the probation service, solicitors, social services, the police, the court witness service and the Crown Prosecution Service.

It covers the impact of crime, referrals, active listening, visiting, telephone contact, basic counselling, violence and criminal injuries compensations, effects on children and families, and victims in court.

There is also an on-going assessment followed by an interview, then probation for three months with a mentor.

Training takes places at local venues over ten consecutive weeks, normally between 7pm and 9pm, and includes a session on personal safety.

Once training is complete, volunteers have the opportunity after six months to move into specialised work involving more serious types of crime.

Some volunteers give only an hour or two a week, while others give much more.

And it is the flexibility which appeals to Lyn the most, as she is able to give as much or as little time as she is able.

The next round of training is due to begin in the spring and anyone who would like to find out more should contact Victim Support Somerset's volunteer co-ordinator, Maureen Keen, on 01823 336523.

A typical training session takes prospective volunteers through the many difference types of crime they are likely to encounter through Victim Support Somerset.