Ashleigh Coney is a volunteer with Durham and Tees Valley Probation Service. She recently won the Teesside University Individual Award at the Middlesbrough Volunteering Star Awards. Here's what Ashleigh has to say about her volunteering experience.
I chose to volunteer with the Probation Service because I studied Criminology here at Teesside. I had learnt a lot about the Probation Service in lectures and liked its old philosophies of advise, assist, befriend. Although many aspects of the Service has changed now it still helps people under its supervision.
A typical day at the offender management unit involves supporting offenders who have no positive role model to follow. You are matched with somebody to work with through the Offender Managers and help them to integrate and become involved in the communities they feel so isolated to live in. Being a positive role model can help the individual to build their self confidence and give them skills which can help them to lead law abiding lifestyles.
Mentors will work with offenders and support them in achieving objectives in their sentence plan. This can involve simple things, attending appointments with the offenders, going on a supervised spend or the more complicated like trying to find them a GP and helping them fill out forms for various issues.
I have learnt that some people have very complicated and chaotic lives, and that with a little help and a step in the right direction people can change.
No matter how complicated a day may get, seeing a smile on a offenders face because you have helped them resolve a matter is the best thing you can get. Even though you know next week they will be back with something new for you to help them with.
My advice for anyone thinking about volunteering would be to DO IT. Knowing that you can help someone take a step in the right direction and move away from the cycle or re-offending is very rewarding.
Do it not only for others but also for yourself. I have received some fantastic training, which I would not otherwise have had. I have met some fantastic people who work for the Service who have helped me with my own research, but the best thing of all is the networking, finding out about other services and meeting people who can help you further your career too. Volunteering has opened up a world of opportunities for me!
If you would like to find out more about how to volunteer for the Probation Service - simply search for "Probation" on the Volun-tees website.