How long does it take to become a volunteer? Expand Volunteering within the Criminal Justice sector can take time due to the very specific recruitment procedures that need to be followed. We are regularly updating our volunteering opportunities page with new roles, so please keep checking back. As soon as we start processing applications, we will get in touch to let you know if you have been successful or not. If successful, you will be invited for an initial interview. If you are successful at interview, we will carry out vetting (including reference checks) and invite you to take part in induction training.
I am looking to volunteer as part of a placement for my course. Can I do this at Pact? Expand Yes! Getting involved in the justice system is an experience like no other. A Pact placement offers passionate and dedicated individuals the chance to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by imprisonment. We require a six-month commitment to the role and encourage you to commit to at least one shift a week. This ensures that you can build rapport and trust with service users. It also helps to build your skills if you wish to take on more advanced roles such as casework. We understand that your course may require you to complete your placement in a shorter time, and this can be discussed with your student placement coordinator at your university. Alternatively, you may wish to complete your placement hours and continue volunteering with us. If you are interested in any of the opportunities on offer, you will be pleased to know that our application process is very straightforward. Due to the time needed for DBS checks and prison vetting, we encourage you to apply at least eight weeks in advance, regardless of any unspent convictions. Please email our Student Placement Coordinator at [email protected].
I can’t afford costs related to my volunteering Expand Pact has an expenses policy in place which ensures we can support volunteers with some, if not all, of the costs of volunteering. How this works depends on which service you are volunteering for. This will be discussed with you during your recruitment and induction. Depending on the project, Pact may also provide and pay for a volunteer phone and other equipment to be used specifically for the service you are involved with.
Do I need any qualifications to be a Pact volunteer? Expand Although some roles do require previous voluntary experience, most of our projects recruit people from all backgrounds. Volunteering with Pact is an on-going learning experience for both you and us.
Am I too old or too young to be a volunteer? Expand Our volunteers must be aged 18 years or over to volunteer with Pact. However, there is no upper age limit. We are an inclusive, welcoming organisation, with a diverse workforce of people who share our core values. We welcome an interest in volunteering from people from all sectors of our diverse communities and all backgrounds, including older and younger people.
I’m busy during weekdays. Can I volunteer in the evenings and weekends? Expand We have a range of projects which require daytime availability (from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm). We also have a range of projects requiring weekend availability. However, we understand that people can be busy so we offer a limited range of evening volunteering opportunities. It is worth checking with our volunteering opportunities to see whether there is something that suits your availability in your area.
Can I volunteer with Pact if I have a criminal record? Expand We are an inclusive, welcoming organisation, with a diverse workforce of people who share our core values. We welcome applications from people from all sectors of our diverse communities and all backgrounds, including people who have been affected by imprisonment. We actively encourage people with criminal convictions to apply for work, both paid and voluntary at Pact. We will need to consider your personal situation on as case by case basis, and ensure we can match you to the right opportunity, as some of our volunteering roles may not be suitable. For many of our community based opportunities, we will only consider applications from people who have been released from prison for more than 12 months. Having said that, we do offer RoTL ("release on temporary licence") placements in roles where we can offer suitable support and supervision. We would always be happy to talk this through before you complete an application form if you are not sure. Please contact us on 0207 735 9535.
What does training cover? Expand We provide a range of training topics as part of your 2 day induction, which includes personal safety, professional boundaries, lone working, confidentiality and safeguarding, and then some further modules relating to the service you are supporting and your role within it. We also have eLearning modules such as ‘An introduction to Pact’, ‘The Criminal Justice System’, ‘Data Protection’ and ‘Health and Safety’ which volunteers will be encouraged to complete as part of their induction training. We want your time with us to be an ongoing learning experience, so we will also offer you other training opportunities and refresher training from time to time. You will be fully supported throughout your time with us and you will be required to attend supervision sessions with your Volunteer Coordinator or Manager.
What do I need to know about being a volunteer with Pact? Expand The application process to volunteer within the criminal justice sector can be time consuming due to the recruitment process requirements, which may include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and prison vetting clearance. Because of this we ask that you are willing to commit to the volunteering role for a 6 month period as a minimum, and that you would be able to volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours per week. Most of our projects require daytime availability (from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm). However, we understand that people can be busy so we offer a limited range of evening volunteering opportunities. For volunteering to be a success for you and our service users, it is important you live locally to where the service or opportunity is being delivered. This also ensures we can support you throughout your time with us through training and supervision meetings with your Volunteer Coordinator or manager. It is worth checking our volunteering opportunities to see if there are opportunities that meeting your needs in your area.
What are the benefits of volunteering with Pact? Expand Volunteers are such a valued part of Pact, and we seek to treat our volunteers the same way we treat our paid staff. This includes ensuring you receive a good induction, training, support and supervision sessions. Most of our volunteering opportunities involve providing contact with and support to our service users; each of whom has their own individual needs; this makes volunteering with us varied and fulfilling. Our volunteers speak of the opportunity that volunteering with us has provided them to develop valuable and transferrable attributes such as listening and being non-judgemental, in addition to obtaining an insight into, and experience of the criminal justice sector. Everyone who volunteers for us has a different reason for doing so, and we do our best to ensure that the opportunity matches their expectation.