The Volunteers

Volunteers have a range of backgrounds and are a mix of ages, though they must be between 22 and 75 years old. Teaching experience is not required. Literacy and numeracy skills are essential although tutors are rarely asked to teach above GCSE level. Tutors have to work within the prison system, so flexibility and resilience are vital, as is the ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times, with an over-riding requirement to observe confidentiality. All applicants will require a DBS certificate. We ask for a commitment to a weekly teaching session for at least two years.

Disabled access is limited – please contact us to discuss this further if necessary. We operate an equal opportunities policy.

Training

All tutors have to undertake three mandatory prison training courses – Prison Awareness, Personal Protection, and Safer Custody – before they can begin to teach. Three months after those have been completed, tutors are eligible to receive Escort Training so that they can escort a student from the wing to the VSE classroom.

Tutors must also undertake the in-house training provided by VSE, covering such topics as:

  • the reasons why some people do not succeed in conventional learning and how a little support can make a big improvement
  • the reading, writing and maths tasks and skills that many people take for granted (such as reading newspapers and magazines, using timetables and books such as the A to Z, writing letters and lists, filling in forms and estimating bills)
  • analysis of reading, writing, spelling and numeracy skills, using phonics when necessary
  • programme and lesson planning, and creating individual learning plans and objectives
  • the difficulties of working in a prison, as well as with young adults who are at odds with official authority figures but who may thrive on one-to-one support
  • the resources provided in the VSE classroom and how to evaluate their usefulness.

Volunteer profile

A good volunteer:

  • is committed to the aims of VSE – offender rehabilitation and crime prevention through community involvement
  • recognises the boundaries of the work and understands the need to observe confidentiality
  • is a good listener and communicator, able to accept other people’s views and not seeking to impose personal value judgements
  • is enthusiastic and supportive, but at the same time able to work with people without becoming emotionally involved
  • is willing to work independently and flexibly but knows when to seek advice and support
  • has an acceptable level of literacy and/or numeracy
  • is reliable and punctual
  • has a moderate standard of physical fitness (the job involves a considerable amount of walking).