Valuing volunteers in prison
“Volunteers have an enormous impact on the lives and rehabilitation chances of offenders and the impressive work of volunteers will form an important part of our programme to reform prisons” - Andrew Selous MP, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation
[[{"fid":"4208","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Valuing volunteers in prison - a review of volunteer involvement in prisons","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Valuing volunteers in prison: a review of volunteer involvement in prisons"},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Valuing volunteers in prison - a review of volunteer involvement in prisons","title":"Valuing volunteers in prison: a review of volunteer involvement in prisons","height":"914","width":"647","style":"width: 275px; height: 388px; float: right; margin: 10px;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]This project, commissioned at the request of Andrew Selous MP, explores how we can increase the amount and scope of prison volunteering across England and Wales. One of the National Offender Management Service's key priorities is supporting the use of volunteers in prisons. Clinks has published two reports and 14 case studies which are intended to inform individuals and organisations involved with, or interested in, enhancing volunteering in prisons.
A review of volunteer involvement in prisons
This report explores the benefits of volunteering in prisons, current examples of good practice, the key supports and barriers to effective volunteer involvement, and actions to support more effective volunteering. It makes seven recommendations including: clear roles should be identified for volunteers, and their work should be strategically integrated; prisons and their partners should proactively recruit volunteers from as diverse a base as possible; and volunteering should receive a consistent level of coordination and support. Download the report here
The views of service users and ex-offenders
Clinks members User Voice undertook a peer-led consultation to explore perceptions of volunteering in prison reform from the perspective of service users. This report shares their experience of volunteering, including service provision, benefits of non-prison staff, and benefits to volunteers; characteristics of volunteers including motivation and lived experience; and delivering voluntary services in prison, including access to prison and reception from prison. Download the report here
Case studies of volunteer involvement
Clinks commissioned case studies from 14 organisations to give examples of a diverse range of volunteering managed by different organisations. The case studies cover: how volunteers are involved in each organisation’s work; what resources are used to recruit, train and manage volunteers; what barriers to volunteer involvement have been encountered; and how these barriers have been overcome. Download the case studies here
Click here to read the blog 'Volunteering plays a vital role in our prisons' and find out more about the project
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get involved Donate | Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Join Mailing List
Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966
© Clinks, 2016