Find out about current volunteer opportunities in the YJS
Then volunteer in the Youth Justice System
By volunteering with children who have offended or who are at risk of offending, you can help them choose a different path from crime. Often these children have become disconnected from opportunities to do something positive with their life. Whether this be education, access to safe and constructive activities – like sport – or having someone who can listen to their problems or worries. By volunteering you can help them turn their lives around, and the lives of their families.
People of all ages and backgrounds can volunteer, although you do need to be over 18 for our volunteering roles. No previous experience is needed, just enthusiasm and a passion to help others. Volunteering is hugely rewarding and fun, but it can also be very challenging as it is not always an easy role.
We are required to carry out a full Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS). Previous convictions, especially those which are minor in nature or old, will not automatically prevent you from becoming a volunteer.
What do we want from you?
If you think volunteering is something you would be interested in and you would like to continue with the process of becoming a volunteer, please e-mail for a volunteer pack: grptorbay-yjs@torbay.gov.uk
Once your completed application form has been received your details will be put on a waiting list.
When the dates for the next round of training have been planned you will be contacted to arrange a convenient time to meet and undertake an interview. This should take about half an hour and will give us a chance to explore your application further. After a successful interview you will then be invited to attend the next available training.
We have several opportunities available and are looking for a diverse range of people to fill the various roles. I have attached the roles descriptions and person specifications so you can decide if volunteering appeals to you.
Commitment to serve for at least a year. (desirable)
A Referral Order is the first order from court that a child is likely to receive. The child is referred to the Referral Order Panel by the courts so a contract can be co-produced & agreed with then on how to stop them re offending. A Referral Order can be given to 10-17 year old who appear in court and plead guilty; unless the crime they committed was serious enough for them to receive a sentence in custody.
It can be for a minimum of three months and a maximum of twelve months depending on the seriousness of the crime. The Referral Order Panel is headed by volunteers from the local community. A member of the youth Justice Service, the child and their parent or carer will also attend the panel meeting.
To be part of a Referral Order Panel meeting. To Chair or assist the chair in co-producing a contract with a young person, to include reparation to make amends to the person harmed or the wider community and agree a program of work and activities to address re-offending. You will meet with the child every three months to check they are completing their contract points.
To sit on Referral Order Panel meetings when required.
To read and understand the reports prior to each panel meeting and co- produce a Referral Order contract with a young person.
Four to six hours a month.
To assist children to achieve their potential and provide them with extra one to one support.
To undertake a variety of activities.
To establish contact with and form relationships with children and their family based on mutual trust and respect and support desistance from offending.
Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken.
Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times.
Two or three hours a week/fortnight. Meetings are usually face to face at a set time each week -but can be flexible.
Reparation enables young people to make amends for what they have done by helping them to give something back either directly to their victim or indirectly to the local community.
To give them the chance to do something positive, hopefully giving them new skills and confidence.
To meet with the child or young person to support them while they complete their reparation project or activity.
To help supervise and support children in a variety of community reparation settings.
To ensure that reparation work undertaken is carried out in line with all relevant YJS policies and report where necessary concerns relating to safety, welfare, or behaviour of the young person.
About two hours a week.