EVERYONE WELCOME

Members: €10  Non-Members: €15

Doors open: 13.30

Coffee/Tea and cakes 15.00 - 16.00

Meet "Pat": The Voice at the End of the Line
A rare interview with a CHS Helpline volunteer

It's 3am. Somewhere in Belgium, someone can't sleep, can't stop worrying, or can't see a way forward. They pick up the phone, and a calm, kind voice answers. That voice belongs to "Pat".

Every CHS Helpline volunteer is known simply as Pat, and they never speak about their work in public. On Tuesday 3 November, for the first time ever, one of them will. After a short welcome from CHS President Jeremy Jennings, a Pat will join former BWC President Lilian Eilers for a live interview at the BWC Clubhouse.

This isn't a lecture. It's a conversation, and you're invited to join in. How do you become a helpline volunteer, and what drives you? Are night-time calls different from daytime ones? And how do you put the phone down after a difficult call and get ready for the next one? Bring your own questions too.

After the talk, do stay on for tea, coffee and cake (included in your fee). Members and non-members are warmly welcome, so bring your friends!

Please note that seats are limited so don’t delay, register today! Registration closes on Friday 30 October.

A bit of background: Community Help Service (CHS) has supported the English-speaking community in Belgium since 1971. It began as an information line for newcomers. Today it is a lifeline. Its free, confidential 24/7 Helpline is answered by trained volunteers who listen without judgement to callers of all ages, from schoolchildren to retirees, facing loneliness, grief, sleepless nights or crisis. And the need is growing. Thousands of people call the Helpline each year. The Pats have spent nearly 1,400 hours listening this year, twice as many hours as in 2022. And lately, unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in calls every day from people who are feeling suicidal. The Helpline addresses a real need and relies entirely on donations.