Re: Prison Rehabilitation Programme

Dear Applicant,

Re: Prison Rehabilitation Programme

Thank you for your interest in Muslim Aid’s Prison Rehabilitation programme.

Attached to this letter are the following:

a 2 page brief on the programme
a 1 page application form

Please read the brief carefully before filling out the application form.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard as one of our mentors.

Kind Regards,

UK Programmes Team

A Brief Guide to Becoming a Volunteer Prisoner Mentor with Muslim Aid

Mentoring

As a volunteer on the Prison Rehabilitation Programme, you will provide one-to-one mentoring to a male offender currently serving their sentence in a London prison. Mentors will be required to visit their assigned prisoner weekly or fortnightly (dependent on needs and availability), for 3/6 months, while in custody. Upon release, mentors are encouraged to offer transitional support by meeting the prisoner ‘at the gate’. After release, the mentoring relationship will continue for a further 3/6 months.

Volunteer mentors will only be matched with offenders that have undergonean assessment with the Community Chaplaincy (or other agencies) to determine their need, level of risk and suitability before being registered on the mentoring scheme.

Training and Support

To enable you help ex offenders positively transition back into the community, you will be trained by qualified professionals on the dos and don’ts of offender mentoring. This training will take place prior to the start of your volunteer placement.

Once a mentor, you will receive regular supervision and advice on any difficulties that arise while supporting your mentee.

Qualifications

Volunteers do not need any specific educational qualifications but should possess a skill (be it emotional or career related) that will be useful to someone currently in or due for release from prison.
Person Specification

Ability to demonstrate empathy, communication, listening and interpersonal skills when dealing with prisoners
Desire to make a real difference to peoples lives and make real positive changes.
Ability to work a non-judgemental way
Encouraging, supportive and willing to work with challenges.
Reliable and able to work within agreed boundaries
Can commit for a minimum period of 9 months
21 and over

Criminal Records

Applicants should have a clear criminal record.
Any applicants with a criminal record must be cleared of any criminal offences for a minimum of 5 years. If you have a criminal record (without it being cleared) then please provide details so we are able to advise you accordingly.

Commitments

All applicants must be able to commit to at-least 9 months for this role.

For applicants that do not meet this requirement, please see ‘other opportunities’ below.

Other Opportunities

Meet & Greet

Interested volunteers unable to commit to the 9 month requirement, can get involved through ‘meet and greets’. This option will see volunteers meet prisoners at the prison gate on their day of release and accompany them to pre-arranged appointments both on that day and once settled in the community.

Chaplaincy Volunteer

Chaplaincy volunteers are trained lay visitors whose help complement the work of the chaplains by assisting with the spiritual and pastoral care of those in prison.

Visitor Centre Support

Research has found that good family ties can significantly reduce a prisoner’s risk of re-offending. This is why visitor’s centres are so important. They are waiting rooms outside of prison where visiting family and friends wait before seeing an offender. In a number of prisons, such as Wormwood Scrubs, they have been upgraded to fully staffed centres providing information, support and advocacy for visitors to prisons.

Despite these upgrades, families and friends of prisoners still face many difficultieswhen visiting loved ones in prison. This includes long distances, an unfamiliar and daunting environment, stigma, and bureaucracy -all of which can play a role in discouraging them from visiting, the end result of which is a reduction in offender’ links with the outside world.

As a Visitor’s Centre volunteer, you will seek to reduce the stress and exhaustion associated with prison visits, by providing invaluable support to offender’s family and friends. This support will range from general mentoring to assistance in translation and filling forms. It may not seem like a lot but this form of support is often enough to motivate and encourage family and friends to visit, which in turn promotes the maintenance of family ties and the rehabilitation of offenders.

Join us

If being aPrisoner Mentor is of interest to you, please complete the application form below. Once you send this in to us, we will invite you for an informal interview where we will be able to discuss on how best to move forward.

If you would like more information please contact one of the members of staff at

Alternatively please call 020 7377 4200

In partnership with

VOLUNTEER PRISONER MENTOR

APPLICATION FORM

Surname: ...... Forename(s): ...... ………………………………………………..………….

Address: ...... ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Postcode …………………………………….

Date of Birth ...... Place of Birth ......

Home ...... Mobile ......

Email …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Occupation ...... ……………………………

Relevant experience or skills

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Reasons for wishing to become a volunteer

Do you have a criminal record?YESNO

If yes, please note below nature of offence, date occurred and end of license date

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What activities are you interested in volunteering for? (Tick as appropriate)

One to one mentoring (9 month commitment)

Meet & Greet – Supporting released prisoners

Visitor Centre Support

Signature: ……………………………………………. Date: ………………………

Please return completed forms to

PO Box 3, London E11WP T 020 7377 4200 F 020 7377 4201

Charity Registration No 295224