Volunteering to help

Volunteers sit at the heart of our team carrying out roles that help some of Plymouth's most vulnerable young people, as well as the communities we live in.

We recruit four different kinds of volunteers – appropriate adult volunteers, mentor volunteers, intensive supervision and surveillance team volunteers, prevention volunteers, referral panel members and reparation volunteers. To learn more about these different roles, see the documents below.

Training

Full training is given to all volunteers including three days of basic training and two days of role specific training. We also provide ongoing development opportunities, both from the Council and with our partner agencies. We hold monthly meetings and volunteers are given supervision so they can develop within a role.

Recruiting

We welcome volunteer applications from across the community. We work with a diverse range of young people so it is essential that we have the ability to meet their needs. A criminal record may not necessarily prevent someone from volunteering with us. Cases will be dealt with on an individual basis. All reasonable expenses incurred through volunteering will be reimbursed.

Safe recruitment

We have a responsibility to keep vulnerable people in our community safe and are committed to promoting the welfare of children. Volunteers are seen by children and young people as safe and trustworthy, as such they need to complete a safer recruitment and selection process which meets Plymouth's safeguarding requirements.

To do this we:

• Hold face to face panel interviews with at least two panel members
• Need two satisfactory references - one from a current or most recent employer and one that covers at least the last five years of employment
• Need you to provide a full employment history from leaving full time education with dates of months/years given
• Need you to explain any gaps in your employment history
• Need you to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check after references are received
• Arrange training (induction into youth justice and safe working practices)
• Advise on appropriate codes of conduct and behaviour
• Provide safeguarding and child protection training
• Match skills with roles
• Provide regular supervision and on going training

If you are a young person or student and have not been in employment, alternative references can be given.

Volunteer commitment

For any volunteering, we need a minimum commitment of at least nine months. This could be one or two hours a week. If you are unable to commit for at least nine months, we are unable to accept your contribution. This is because you need to be trained and this takes time. We are very sorry, but for summer holidays, short term commitments and intermittent commitments these are not a viable volunteering opportunity for us.

However, if you are able to commit for nine months or more, we are eager to hear from you. Please contact us and our volunteer co-ordinator will be in touch.

[Back to top]