Ex-offenders, Offenders and Prisoners as Volunteers

You may also like to browse the general resources in the Good Practice Bank's Core Themes. They cover topics such as 'Equal Opportunities and Diversity', 'Protection and Safeguarding of Vulnerable Clients' and 'Creating Volunteer Roles'. Visit the Good Practice Bank index to find a full list of themes.

Articles

• CRB Disclsoures and the Indepdent Safeguarding Authority - VE Information Briefing (PDF) (coming soon)

Example, Sample and Template Documents

Generic sample statements on recruiting ex-offenders

• Sample Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders - Criminal Records Bureau (external link)
• Sample Statement to give to volunteer enquirers/applicants - Nacro and VE (PDF, refer to page 16 of booklet)

Links

• Goldstar Exemplar Programme
  A national programme aiming to highlight good practice in working with volunteers from socially excluded groups. The website contains profiles of exemplar volunteering projects and case studies about good practice.
  http://www.goldstar.org.uk/
  
• Nacro is a crime reduction charity which works to support ex-offenders and deprived communities. They can advise on issues related to taking on ex-offenders as volunteers.
  http://www.nacro.org.uk/
• Clinks works to to strengthen and develop partnerships between voluntary and community-based organisations and the Prison and Probation Services in England and Wales.
  http://www.clinks.org/
  

Toolkits and Publications

• Clinks have produced a series of Guides for organisations involving volunteers in criminal justice settings.  The Guides include Setting up a project, Managing volunteers, Demonstrating effectiveness, and Quality standards.
  http://www.clinks.org/volunteeringguides.aspx
• Involving Ex-offenders in Volunteering - Volunteering England and Nacro (PDF)
• Clinks offers a number of publications about volunteering with offenders or in prisons. Further information is available from Clinks' online list of publications.