In addition to one to one befriending, there are also the following volunteering options within the scheme:
Referral Order Panels - First time offenders, if given a referral order in the court, are required to appear before a Panel. These Panels are made up of trained volunteers and a Youth Offending Service worker with an aim to find a solution to their offending at an early stage. Panellists talk with the young person and their family and together develop a contract of work that the young person can complete over the period of the order (further training is provided for this role).
Group Work - The Youth Offending Service provide several group work opportunities on a regular or occasional basis. Weekly football sessions on Monday afternoons, weekly outdoor pursuits and gardening with persistent offenders on the ISSP programme, and occasionally, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions working towards this award, and the 'genesis' courses run with the fire service provided to young people run over a week, quarterly. Volunteers would help with running these sessions.
"There is no greater feeling than ringing the young person to hear his guardian say, 'His face has lit up now he knows it's you'. It really made me realise that just a few hours of my time, does make a huge difference."
“Volunteering with Involve has been a valuable enjoyable and worthwhile experience. The service Involve provides is excellent, not only for the service user but also for volunteers. A valuable much needed service in the community, which, I see as essential especially for the families involved. Staff are dedicated and committed and from my experience the back bone of such a well implemented service, of which they should be very proud.”
Just Us volunteers befriend and spend time with a young person aged 10-17 years who has been placed on orders from the youth court (e.g. on probation, in the 'looked after' care system, on a care order). The aim is to prevent further offending and to ensure that the young person's needs are met through support, specific programmes working on self-esteem, etc. and to understand the consequences of their behaviour. Volunteers can help by taking part in positive leisure activities and / or assisting them with whatever needs they may have.
