6 November 2007
Two Criminal Justice System volunteers have had their efforts rewarded at the country’s top awards for justice.
The annual national Justice Awards boasts a leading judging panel including the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General. At the awards ceremony in London, presented by BBC Crimewatch’s Fiona Bruce, Avril Ainsbury scooped the Volunteer of the Year award while Jackie Goulding was the runner up in the same category.
Avril Ainsbury currently works at the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre, but has been working with communities in Liverpool since 1970. For 22 years, she was involved with the Croxteth Gems project, supporting various members of her local community. After leaving in 2004, she has been an exceptional volunteer working as a Custody Suite Visitor, Offender Mentor and Victim Support and Witness Service volunteer.
Avril said: “It’s a privilege to be here, lots of other volunteers have done the same as me and I feel lucky be to be chosen. I want to use my skills to give something back and the more volunteers that can help young people and support them means we can help them to a take different path. The Community Justice Centre has made a big difference to the area and the agencies work together to ensure people are supported and ready to come to court.”
Justin Davis Smith, Acting Chief Executive of Volunteering England, said:
“We often talk about “volunteering” in the abstract, but Avril and Jackie remind us of the real difference that individuals can make and are truly deserving winners of the Volunteer of the Year award. Without volunteers working with both victims and offenders, our justice system would be all the poorer and it is people like Avril and Jackie who make positive change in our society possible.”
Runner-up Jackie Goulding’s primary skills combine a high standard of emotional support with the practical advice and action which serious crimes need.
Examples of Jackie's dedication as a volunteer can be seen through her work with a mother on solutions to her daughter's behavioural problems following an assault, and liaising with a coroner when negligence on the part of others was suspected. She also provided information on benefits and provided long-term emotional support to a frail, elderly bereaved mother.
Another aspect of Jackie's work is her participation in working groups to improve training and conditions for volunteers. She was a key figure in re-writing volunteering policy in her area, and subsequently joined the Board of Trustees.
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, who was on the judging panel, added:
“It was incredibly difficult to differentiate between Avril and Jackie as the quality of their nominations were so high. They truly demonstrate the excellent and valued work carried out by volunteers across the Criminal Justice System.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
- mp3 interviews with them are available via email on request. If you would like either of these, or to speak to a winner directly, in the first instance please contact either:
Cat Dean
Volunteering England
020 7520 8932
cat.dean@volunteeringengland.org
Matt Eccles
Office for Criminal Justice Reform
020 7035 8735
matt.eccles@cjs.gsi.gov.uk
- For further information on all the Justice Awards winners, please go to www.cjsonline.gov.uk/justiceawards.
- The Justice Awards recognises outstanding contributions by teams or individuals to the Criminal Justice System of England and Wales. Staff or volunteers at justice agencies or organisations working with them are eligible to be nominated by their colleagues. In 2007, finalists across 14 categories were chosen from 830 nominations across England and Wales.
