Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? Would you like to support people who have been involved in the criminal justice system and live with personality difficulties or personality disorders, and help to make positive changes to their lives? Are you looking for a challenge?
If you have answered yes to the above, you could be just what we are looking for!
Sova are currently recruiting Volunteer Mentors to work within London and Greater London, to support and mentor offenders with making positive changes to their lives and building better opportunities for the future.
The Support Link Project focus on local people supporting them get back into the community and help them get over any barriers they may be facing.
A lot of our clients lack confidence, have low self-esteem, lead chaotic lives and have little or no support from family and friends. Don’t you think they should have someone on their side?
Our Volunteer Mentors provide the support to help people get their lives back on track.
About Sova
Our mission is to support people to develop the skills and confidence to take control of their lives and develop their full potential.
We are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of people who have a broad range of often complex needs that prevent them from engaging fully in their communities.
We enable people to identify and build on their existing strengths and to use these to develop new skills and pursue new opportunities. Our aim is to let people who are isolated or excluded know that we understand the issues and challenges they face, and that we will support them to shape their future.
We work in partnership with commissioners and other service providers to develop effective responses to our service users’ challenges that engage them in an exciting journey towards a better, stronger future.
Our passionate staff team and national network of committed volunteers deliver a range of services including:
Supporting mental health, emotional wellbeing, risk taking behaviours and family relationships;
Advocacy, befriending and mentoring for children, young people and families ;
Rehabilitation and mentoring packages for juvenile and adult offenders, addressing dependency, mental health, housing and employment needs;
Supporting those furthest away from the labour market back into work, education or training
Housing and tenancy support to reduce likelihood of homelessness and reduce anti-social behaviour;
Working in partnership with Local Authorities to deliver statutory public services including Appropriate Adult provision and Independent Visitors for looked after children.
This is an exciting, challenging and fulfilling opportunity for those that wish to support those with a recent offending history to integrate back into society. No experience needed.
The role of a Volunteer Mentor:
• Making positive impact on the life of potentially vulnerable and/or socially excluded individuals.
• Building a pro-active, encouraging relationship
• Providing support so that your mentee can identify and achieve their personal goals
• Helping someone to integrate back into the community
• Being a listening ear during difficult times your mentee maybe facing
We ask our mentors to:
• Be sensitive to the barriers that our clients may face such as isolation, mental health issues and lack of supportive relationships etc.
• Be open minded – focusing on their mentees future
• Carry a belief that people can change for the better
• Be committed and reliable
Practical Considerations
• You must be 18 years old and above to apply
• Full training is provided as part of the recruitment process
• All volunteers the opportunity to complete the Certa accredited training
• Please note that having unspent convictions will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a Volunteer Mentor
• As an equal opportunity recruiter we consider each application on a case by case basis. However, applicants who are ISA/DBS barred should not apply
• Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed during volunteering
• You would be required to use a computer briefly for emails and reports being sent to your case manager on the project.