Sometimes the contact with victims is short but sometimes it can last years.
"I get a big buzz to see a victim start to climb out of the trauma they are facing and take control of their lives again," Bev says with a satisfied smile.
"People can either be a victim for the rest of their lives or look for support to help them move on."
The former high school teacher joined the team at Whangarei when she wanted to find something to do after early retirement -- that was seven years ago.
She helped a woman write a victim impact statement which was read at the sentencing of the perpetrator who had held a gun at her head.
"After the statement she had tears in her eyes and told me she felt much better after talking with me.
"I'm always looking for some way to help them. You support them and you are there for the victim."
She said many of the volunteers had experienced trauma in their own lives. She knows first hand what it is like to be a victim and reckons you come out of it much stronger.
Bev says the rewards came when least expected. One of the victims she had helped joined the team.
"That was a great feeling to know I had helped someone to the point where they felt they could help others."
Volunteer Annette juggles her work with victim support around a full-time job.
It was an advertisement in the paper that drew her into helping Victim Support.
"You have to be open to anything and everything. The kaupapa is the same for everyone and that is to support them through their trauma," Annette says. She has been trained to help families coping with the impact of suicide.
"The biggest reward is knowing in my heart I have helped someone in some way. We walk beside people through some horrendous times. You might be strangers but in a moment of crisis you become one."
Victim Support service co-ordinator Mandy Kahotea, who has been involved with victim support for nine years, says it is a humbling experience to help people when they are at their lowest point and know that you can make a difference.
Victim Support provides emotional and practical support, information, financial assistance, referral to other support services and advocacy for victims' rights.
In turn this support helps victims and their families find strength, hope and safety in the face of grief and trauma.
Since July 2014 the Northland Victim Support service has supported 452 victims, which equals 1720 hours by volunteers.
"We are currently actively working with 318 victims and have 2883 support actions in progress," Mandy says.
Volunteers are given an intensive weekend of training followed by monthly sessions. Currently more volunteers are needed across the region. Those who are interested will undergo police checks.
"We are looking for people from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities, with life experience who are non-judgmental.
"Our volunteers are a special group of people because they want to be there and help others. It's so important that the victim's voice is heard."
The work done by the volunteers has been praised by one of the region's top cops.
Area Commander Mid and Far North Inspector Wendy Robilliard said Victim Support and police had worked closely for years to ensure the effective delivery of victim support services.
"The role of the Victim Support volunteer is an incredibly important role which provides an extra layer of support to our victims of crime and also helps police in their support of victims," she said. "Training new volunteers ensures we can provide an ongoing professional service that is operating 24/7 and aligns well with the new Prevention First Operating Strategy which places victims at the heart of everything we do".
* Would you like to volunteer? Contact 0800 victim or 0800 842 846 or go to www.victimsupport.org.nz
"The biggest reward is knowing in my heart I have helped someone in some way. We walk beside people through some horrendous times. You might be strangers but in a moment of crisis you become one."
- Annette, Victim Support worker
