Meet Anna, who is volunteering with Pact as part of her student placement.

It will leave you feeling like you’ve made a real difference and there’s nothing better than that.

Q: How did you feel when you found out you’d be on placement with Pact? 

A: I was thrilled! I had the choice of so many amazing looking placements, but Pact was my first choice, so finding out I had secured it was such a great feeling. From my research I had read about the wonderful work that Pact does supporting prisoners and their families, so I was so excited to be a part of it. Since starting my placement I have realised that Pact does so much more than I initially thought, so I feel unbelievably lucky to be involved. 

Q: What’s the best bit about your placement with Pact?

A: For me, the best part is being able to see the effect that my work has. Whether it be seeing a nervous first time visitor start to relax in the lead up to their visit, hearing the relief over the phone when you have addressed the concerns of a worried parent, or making progress on a prisoner’s case to help him connect with his children. All of these areas bring so much good into the lives of people who are struggling, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.

Q: What have you learned so far through your placement?

A: The biggest thing I’ve learned is confidence, which is a really important achievement for me, and I imagine would be for many others. But also, I’ve learned to appreciate how prison can affect so much more than just the prisoner. It’s opened my eyes to the consequences it has on families and communities, and given me an appreciation for the golden thread of family connection for prisoners.

Q: What would you say to anyone who might be thinking about volunteering with Pact?

A: If you want to volunteer for an organisation that changes lives for the better then Pact is the perfect option. It will leave you feeling like you’ve made a real difference and there’s nothing better than that. But also, the team who work within Pact are some of the most supportive and caring people, so the opportunity to work alongside them is a privilege in itself.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

A: I would like to thank the existing Pact staff and volunteers for all of their amazing work, and for making Pact such an amazing place to do a placement. It has shaped me into a better person and for that I am very grateful.

Find out more

• Find out about volunteering opportunities near you.
• Meet more of our volunteers and learn about the different volunteering roles in Pact.
• Find out about fundraising to support our work or make a donation online.
• Do you want to work for us? Take a look at our current vacancies.

If you want to find out more about Anna's role or if you have any questions about volunteering with Pact, get in touch with us on [email protected].