Volunteering provides you with the opportunity to do something useful for your local community. You won’t get paid (apart from expenses) but you will feel the satisfaction of time and effort well spent. You may also meet new people, learn new skills and gain useful experience.
What do I need?
You don’t necessarily need to give a great deal of your time up and there are no age limits. However, the following skills and qualities will be useful.
- Good communication skills
- Reliability
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Sensitivity
- Commitment
- Flexibility
What opportunities are there in youth justice?
Effective youth justice services require the involvement of their local community, so there are various volunteering opportunities within the youth justice system, including the following. Click on each to read more.
Who should I contact if I’m interested?
To volunteer for the majority of roles listed here, you should get in touch with your local youth offending team (YOT). Click for YOT contact details. Alternative ways of volunteering are listed on the relevant pages.
What should I expect when I volunteer?
When you volunteer you should expect the following.
- To receive training and supervision
- To complete a criminal records check – you will need to disclose any previous convictions or investigations by the police (see the Criminal Records Bureau website for more information; link opens in new window)
- To receive reasonable expenses to get to and from your work
- To receive information about health and safety issues
- To supply references about your suitability