Reach to Recovery International offers two types of training: Volunteer training through exchange programmes and train-the-trainer workshops.

Volunteer training through exchange programmes

The cancer burden, problems of breast cancer survivors, culture, language and available resources differ from country to country and region to region. Volunteer training is conducted by more mature groups in the same region that face similar problems. The established groups help the newly trained volunteers to set up new groups in their home countries.

Breast cancer survivors who are interested in giving volunteer supportive care, are physically fit, and finished their treatment more than one year before can take part in volunteer training.

Volunteer training programmes vary in length but last on average 1-3 days, though this may be spread out. Newly trained volunteers usually find it helpful if the training ends with a visit to the hospital with the coordinator or an experienced volunteer.

Recommended topics

• history of Reach to Recovery
• overview of breast cancer and its treatment
• roles and responsibilities of volunteers
• personal skills and needs
• sexuality and breast cancer
• relaxation techniques
• video of a visit
• guidelines for a visit
• role play and practicalities of visiting and keeping records
• how to fit a prosthesis
• handling questions relating to choices of treatment
• balancing volunteer life and personal life

Evaluation of training

All participants are evaluated after the training and every six months. If it is recommended that they need further training, they are encouraged to go through another training session. Certificates are awarded to volunteers by the coordinator when they are qualified to give peer supportive care.

Additional training

After their initial training, volunteers should continue to improve their skills, by attending RRI conferences, receiving Bloom, the RRI newsletter, and attending additional training whenever possible.

Train-the-trainer workshops

Train-the-trainer workshops are targeted at Reach to Recovery coordinators. They impart essential skills for volunteer training, make coordinators familiar with Reach to Recovery standards, and help them to develop volunteer training programmes best suited to their own setting.

Coordinators are then able to identify and train local volunteers, often with help from the local cancer society, as well as medical and paramedical personnel.

Train-the-trainer workshops are usually held as pre-conference workshops at RRI conferences but may be conducted at other times if necessary.

Participants can be health-care professionals or fully recovered breast cancer patients who are already qualified as volunteer visitors.

Recommended topics

• planning and developing the Reach to Recovery programme
• selecting volunteers
• organizing and implementing volunteer training programmes
• matching supportive care volunteers and patients
• maintaining volunteer and patient records and ensuring confidentiality of patient information
• ongoing supervision of volunteers
• liaison with relevant health professionals, organizations and treatment centres
• ongoing support, supervision and training
• monitoring and evaluating the programme
• management skills

Supportive care by telephone

Advances in surgical techniques in some countries have shortened hospital stays for women with breast cancer. In response, hospital visits have sometimes been replaced by supportive care given by telephone. Volunteers are trained in listening skills, how to justify their calls, and how to keep a record of calls made.