Volunteer Mentor

What will you be doing?

Trailblazers has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998 with ultimate aim to to reduce re-offending. We provide support to men between the age of 18 - 35 that have 6 months left of their prison sentence and through gate into their own community for a maximum of 12 months. Services are delivered in Wolverhampton in HMPYOI Brinsford, HMP Featherstone. In London HMP Brixton and HMPYOI Isis. We are looking for volunteer mentors in all prison projects that can spare half a day per week to support men to change their life through inspirational role models and goal setting. Mentoring sessions usually last 1 hour per week, to allow enough time for travel and liaising with Trailblazers staff this will take about half of your day. We are actively looking for people to join our mentoring community with lived experience of the criminal justice system, under represented groups from BAME community, creative arts, business skills, wellbeing - whatever your skills and background we are open to hear from you to support our diverse group of men. Out of pocket expenses are covered as well as training to equip you for your role. We are currently recruiting for projects at HMPYOI Isis, HMP Brixton, HMP Featherstone, HMPYOI Brinsford. Induction training is provided, out of pocket expenses covered, a mobile phone is provided to protect your own identity, a Trailblazers T-shirt and lanyard, DBS costs are covered, as well as regular reflective practice sessions to support you within your role. 

What are we looking for?

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and challenges faced by mentees (Desirable) full training will be given  • Awareness of own professional boundaries and the ability to report any concerns within the mentoring relationship that could be pertinent to risk to the mentee, or to others  • To be an advocate for a mentee and to actively seek opportunities for mentees for resettlement back into their own community in conjunction with Trailblazers staff  • To be non-judgmental, focus on the person rather than the offense  • Professional but relatable with strong communication skills  • Awareness of adversity and how to overcome barriers to build a supportive network around the mentee  • Basic IT skills  • Be able to take advice and guidance from Trailblazers staff  Criteria • Over 21 with 3 years professional experience in our skillset  • We encourage applications from those with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System but you must be off licence for a minimum of 12 months, and not in crisis yourself  • You cannot apply to a project if you have been a resident in the same prison yourself  • A good level of fitness to able to move around a prison at fast past that does include stairs  • Due to security checks at the prison you must be a British citizen      • Not committed an offense where you are barred from working with vulnerable adults or children  • Live within a 30 mile radius from the prison you would like to volunteer at

What difference will you make?

Our mission is to reduce re-offending with men and inspire new futures. Your support will help a young man to be able to reconnect with his own community, friends/loved ones, go into education, training and employment, give a person a sense of hope for the future. As a charity we are reliant on volunteers with your help we can continue to support people in prison to make and change to their lives, their family and wider society. We welcome all skill sets within Trailblazers as we work with a diverse group of men, all we ask if you have a genuine passion for social change and that you can commit to at least 1 young man for a maximum of 18 months so they have a consistent person in their life - something that some of our mentees have never had. The national average re-offending rate for a person leaving prison without a Trailblazers mentor is approx. 30%, those that have a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%.