Volunteer Mentor ETE - Volunteer

Join to apply for the Volunteer Mentor ETE role at Trailblazers Mentoring. Can you commit a few hours per week to mentor a young man who has recently left prison and support them to gain meaningful education, training and employment (ETE) opportunities?

What difference will you make? Our mission is to reduce re-offending with men and inspire new futures. Your support will help a young man to reconnect with his community, friends/loved ones, pursue education, training and employment, and gain a sense of hope for the future. As a charity, we rely on volunteers to continue to support people in prison to make positive life changes for themselves, their families and wider society. We welcome all skill sets within Trailblazers and we ask that you have a genuine passion for social change and can commit to at least one young man for up to 12 months so they have a consistent person in their life.

The national average re-offending rate for a person leaving prison without a Trailblazers mentor is up to 55%, whereas those with a Trailblazers mentor is lowered to 9%. Gaining meaningful employment has a significant impact on reducing reoffending and gives individuals a chance for a bright future of opportunities.

What are we looking for?

• Empathetic with a positive outlook and manner.
• Able to help others without judgement or discrimination.
• Excellent communicators with a sense of humour.
• Well organised, can prioritise and multi-task.
• Reliable and able to commit to the role for up to 12 months providing weekly ETE sessions remotely either by telephone or via Zoom / MS Teams.
• Skills and experience in supporting those who are disadvantaged into education, training and employment (ETE).
• Ability to work independently with the ability to prioritise and manage your own workload with minimal supervision taking a flexible and creative approach to the demands of the post.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to other cultures, working with people from other backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities.
• Working with Trustees and Management Teams to support them in delivering the organisation's objectives.
• Being able to manage conflicting priorities as they arise.
• Worked with CRM databases, computer literate with the ability to use other computer packages.
• Understanding of various legislation and policies relevant to Data Protection, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Codes of Conduct.

What will you be doing? Trailblazers has provided mentoring services to people in prison since 1998 with the aim of reducing re-offending. We support men aged 18-35 in custody who have 6 months left of their sentence, then transition into their community for up to 12 months. The Education, Training & Employment (ETE) team helps mentees in custody to break down barriers to employability. Post-release, this continues by helping mentees gain meaningful and career-changing roles in sector-specific industries such as Construction, Engineering, Catering & Hospitality or through the Self-Employment route.

The ETE team is building a team of volunteers to work with mentees in the community and shape the existing ETE service in the Thames Valley area. We seek volunteer mentors who can commit for up to 12 months and dedicate a few hours each week to help mentees change their lives by being inspirational role models, helping with goal setting, and supporting access to ETE opportunities and meaningful employment. Mentoring sessions are one-to-one, weekly, and can be conducted remotely by telephone or online. Sessions last approximately one hour, with additional time for liaison with Trailblazers staff and researching relevant opportunities.

Induction training is provided, with out-of-pocket expenses covered, a mobile phone provided to protect your identity, Trailblazers T-shirt and lanyard, DBS costs covered, and regular reflective practice sessions to support you in your role. We welcome people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and from underrepresented groups to join our diverse mentoring community.