Central Government Review highlights VCKC Scheme
In her recent review of Volunteering across the Criminal Justice System, Baroness Julia Neuberger referred to our Resettlement Scheme to illustrate the positive effect that volunteering can have on offenders. She went on to say:
‘the Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea Resettlement Scheme demonstrates clearly the rehabilitative effect volunteering can have on offenders.’
‘the Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea Resettlement Scheme demonstrates clearly the rehabilitative effect volunteering can have on offenders.’
Since 2002 the project has worked with well over 200 offenders and only 1 of them had re-offended. In her report this amazing statistic was attributed to two factors:
- The practical experience volunteering gives offenders to face life on the outside.
- The opportunity to increase self-esteem by participating in something that enables offenders to see themselves as helpers and givers.
Baroness Neuberger feels that more could be done to tap into the potential of people who have experienced the system becoming volunteers. She says:
‘There is particular potential for people who’ve experienced the system to support others. Nobody is better placed to work with prisoners and reduce re-offending than someone who has experienced prison. A positive Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check could sometimes be viewed as an advantage for certain voluntary roles.’
We would like to extend our service and offer more organisations the opportunity to work with prisoners.
We can help you to:
- Involve prisoners,
- Prepare you for working with prisoners,
- Refer appropriate prisoners to your scheme.
If you have any questions or ideas around working with prisoners, please get in touch.
Contact Philomena Murphy or Andrew Croxford on 020 8960 3722