Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.
• Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
• Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
• Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
• Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
• Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
• Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
• Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
• Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
• Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
• Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
• Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering
We’re looking for people who
• Have a commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
• Are able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
• Have strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
• Are able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
• Are able to manage own time and prioritise
• Are able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
• Are able to use and regularly monitor Shannon Trust outlook emails, use Microsoft Teams and other computer packages as required
The prison volunteer role is available Monday to Friday during working hours and in line with the prison regime. You will be linked to a specific prison or prisons to support as a representative of Shannon Trust. Typically you will visit your prison 2-4 times a month and you will also attend quarterly area meetings.
We ask volunteers to commit approximately 7 to 14 hours a month to the prison volunteer role, spread over 2 to 4 days to fit in with staff availability and the prison regime. This isn't a role where your activities can take place on a set day or time each week and prison visits can't take place at weekends. You'll need to be flexible and be able to visit your prison at an agreed time with staff, during the daytime Monday to Friday. Prisons often ask you to start your visit at 08.00 or 13.30.
Assemble is our volunteer management system here at Shannon Trust. Our Assemble Volunteer Hub will provide a single point of access for your volunteering needs and opportunities at Shannon Trust, including training, volunteer events and expenses.
Shannon Trust provides a wide range of training for volunteers. You will be expected to attend all mandatory training for new volunteers, some will be group training and some will be online. The training dates will be listed in the Assemble role advert and you must be available to attend all of the sessions. The training will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of the values and visions of the charity and practical support for your prison role.
You will receive a thorough induction into your prison and quarterly review meetings to review and discuss your volunteering experience.
We want to ensure that volunteers’ out of pocket expenses are not a barrier to their involvement with Shannon Trust. As such, reasonable expenses, including expenses for travel and meals, will be reimbursed.
• Ongoing training to support your role
• Developing IT skills and support using up to date packages
• Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
• Training, facilitation and phonics/ numeracy skills
• Relationship building
• Chairing meetings
• Presentation skills
Prison and remote/homebased – In most circumstances we would require volunteers to live within 1 hour of the prison they are applying to volunteer at.
In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare.
