Volunteer Volunteer Mentor ETE

What will you be doing?

Trailblazers has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998 with ultimate aim to reduce re-offending. We provide support to men between the age of 18 - 35 in custody who have 6 months left of their prison sentence, and then 'through the gate' into their own community for up to 12 months. The Education, Training & Employment (ETE) team supports our mentees in custody to break down barriers to employability. Post-release, this continues by supporting mentees to gain meaningful and career changing roles in sector specific industries such as Construction, Engineering, Catering & Hospitality or the Self-Employment route.  The ETE team are looking to build a team of volunteers to work with mentees in the community and to shape the existing ETE service in the Thames Valley area. We are looking for volunteer mentors who can commit for up to 12 months and give a few hours a week to support men to change their life by being inspirational role models, helping with goal setting and supporting their mentee to access ETE opportunities and ultimately gain meaningful employment. Mentoring sessions will be 1:1, take place weekly and can be done remotely by telephone or online. These sessions will last approximately one hour, but some time should also be given to liaising with Trailblazers staff and researching relevant opportunities.  We are currently recruiting for Trailblazers' ETE project at HMP Bullingdon. 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.  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. 

What are we looking for?

Empathetic with a positive outlook and manner. Able to help others without judgement or discrimination. Excellent communicators with a sense of humour. Well organised, can prioritise and multi-task. Reliable and able to commit to the role for up to 12 months providing weekly ETE sessions remotely either by telephone or via Zoom / MS Team digital platforms. Skills and experience in supporting those who are disadvantaged into education, training and employment (ETE). Ability to work independently with the ability to prioritise and manage your own workload with minimal supervision taking a flexible and creative approach to the demands of the post. Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to other cultures, working with people from other backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities. Working with Trustees and Management Teams to support them in delivering the organisations objectives. Being able to manage conflicting priorities as they arise. Worked with CRM databases, computer literate with the ability to use other computer packages. Understanding of various legislation and policies relevant to Data Protection, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Codes of Conduct.

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, and 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 12 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 up to 55%, those that have a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%. Gaining meaningful employment has a significant impact on reducing reoffending rates and giving an individual a chance for a bright future of opportunities.