The reality of volunteering on the Children’s Panel

Making important legal decisions to protect children and young people can be both rewarding and challenging — from finding time to prepare for and take part in hearings, to building confidence in the hearing room alongside the demands of everyday life.

Your training equips you with the skills and confidence you need, but complex or emotional content may still have an impact during your time as a volunteer

We know that volunteering is just one part of your life, and that challenges outside of this role can arise.

Your wellbeing

At CHS, wellbeing is vital to our community so that our volunteers feel supported, capable, and valued in their contributions toward the children’s hearings system.

Tailored support is available throughout your time as a Panel Member or Panel Practice Advisers, from your first days of training and sitting in hearings all the way through to recognising your years of commitment and offering time to listen to your feedback and reflections.

We offer support after every kind of hearing and when volunteers may need time away for health, family or work reasons.

This support covers the emotional and practical needs you have so that you get the most out of your volunteering role.

Supporting you as a Panel Member

Each regional Area Support Team has a dedicated Wellbeing Coordinator who works proactively and responsively to support volunteers at every stage of their journey.

This support includes helping you transition from trainee to confident Panel Member through check-ins at key points in your first year, such as at three and six months.

We hold post-hearing debriefs and reflective conversations to help you process any challenges, particularly after complex or emotional hearings.

You can also access one-to-one support if your circumstances change and affect how you carry out your role—whether that’s adjusting to personal changes, making reasonable adjustments, or taking time away from the rota, helping you to continue volunteering.

As a CHS volunteer, you can also access extra support—if you need it—through our free, confidential wellbeing assistance programme. Delivered by an external partner, it offers trained counsellors who provide in-the-moment emotional support, counselling, and specialist advice.

Wellbeing that works for you

You can also access a range of wellbeing resources through the CHS Learning Academy.

We have online courses and tools to support resilience, mental health awareness, self-care, stress management, and building healthy boundaries.

Our flexible, tailored support allows you to find what works best for you.

Because when you feel supported as a volunteer, you can focus on what matters most—making the best decisions for children and young people.