There are many opportunities to volunteer in the secure estate, including being a mentor or helping with young people’s reading.
In most cases, the best way to get involved within the secure estate is to directly contact agencies running schemes within custody, such as Nacro [opens in a new window].
Youth offending teams (YOTs) may be able to offer some opportunities, such as volunteering with Resettlement and Aftercare Provision. This may involve visiting, or writing to, young people in custody before making contact again on their release. If you are interested in contributing to the resettlement and aftercare needs of young people leaving custody, contact your local YOT.
Independent Monitoring Board member
Another way to volunteer within the secure estate is to become an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) member.
IMBs are made up of volunteers who visit secure establishments and meet with the young people to help monitor aspects of their life in custody, such as living conditions. They monitor to ensure that standards are maintained, identify concerns and issues, and discuss these at board meetings and recommend actions.
IMB members can be a range of ages and come from a variety of backgrounds. You do not need any special qualifications, as you would be fully trained, but you will need time, energy and enthusiasm. Being an IMB member is likely to take up an average of two to three days per month of your time, although this can vary slightly depending on your local board and the size and nature of the establishment it monitors.
For more information, including case studies and an application pack, see the Home Office’s Independent Monitoring Board’s website [opens in new window].