Paula AthertonSefton Council for Voluntary Service

Learning / develop new skills Boost career options Develop interests and hobbies Provide new experiences Meeting a diverse range of people Motivation and sense of achievement Be part of a community

Benefits of Volunteering & Citizenship

“Volunteering has the potential to rehabilitate offenders.”“It can provide skills, a route to employment and learning, a sense of responsibility and a new role in society.”

“Around 12 per cent of Nacro’s Volunteers are former offenders who have left crime behind them”

Peer Roles

Mentoring / Counselling

Democratic

Community Activity

A purpose to their time in prison Acquired skills Earning trust A chance to give something back Route from passive recipient to a

contributor to society Develop responsibility

‘I’ve always been take, take, take and I’ve never given anything back before, I feel a hundred times better, now that I can give something back’.

‘It’s a great feeling when you see guys who you have helped through. There’s a sense of pride, something I’ve never had in the past’.

Recognising criminal justice citizenship roles

Registering offenders as ‘volunteers’ Monitoring hours Providing certificates Helping to move into community

volunteering roles on release

Offenders expressed a desire for something to show for their lives and described a newfound pleasure from participating in volunteer roles.

Offenders have moved on to a range of community roles:

Fire Support Network Mentoring Counselling Handy Help Scheme

Active Citizenship is the first step in a long journey

Volunteering England Involving ex-offenders in

volunteeringhttp://www.volunteering.org.uk

Nacro Rehabilitation of Offendershttp://www.nacro.org.uk/

Paula AthertonSefton Council for Voluntary Servicepaula.atherton@seftoncvs.org.uk0151 928 2233 Ext111