Volunteers sought for work with youth offenders
Ealing’s Youth Offending service is looking for volunteers from the local community to help them in their work with young people.
Local people are needed to sit on the borough’s Youth Offending Panels. Panels consist of two volunteers and a member of the Youth Offending service.
Young people are referred after they have committed a first, and sometimes a second offence. The panels give the youngsters a chance to turn their lives around, and make reparation to their victims and to the wider community.
The panel talks to the young person, their family and the victim of the crime and agrees a tailor-made contract. This might include sending a letter of apology to the victim, undertaking community work, such as clearing parks, or taking part in sessions designed to help them make better decisions and prevent future offending.
Volunteers are asked to commit to the panels for a minimum of a year and should expect to give up around two hours a week, usually in the evening. In return, they are given training and full support, and have the opportunity to make a positive difference to their local community and the lives of young people.
Councillor Patricia Walker, cabinet member for Children and Young People, said: “Volunteering for our youth offending panels is an incredibly important job. Volunteers become part of the criminal justice system and play a major role in reducing the risk of these young people re-offending.
“Our existing volunteers are very diverse and come from a wide variety of backgrounds and circumstances. Some are retired, some work full-time and others are unemployed and are using the experience as a route to a new career. I encourage anyone who is interested in taking part to contact Ealing’s Youth Offending service and speak to one of our very knowledgeable staff.”
For more information, go to www.ealing.gov.uk or contact Linda Reid at reidl@ealing.gov.uk or by calling 020 8993 9555.
12th October 2011