InsideOut Support Volunteer

This volunteer role contributes to the delivery of InsideOut, a VCKC project supporting people in Greater London who are about to leave custody or have criminal records.

The project helps clients to stabilise their lives, achieve their goals, and use their lived experience to give back to their communities.

The support we offer our clients includes:

• Setting goals and planning for the future.
• Finding and securing employment, volunteering, education, and/or training. This includes supporting clients with creating criminal disclosure letters, CVs, applications, and interview preparation.
• Applying for funding, ID and bank accounts.
• Reducing isolation, supporting emotional wellbeing, improving relationships, and building community.
• Accessing support services, including mental health or substance misuse.
• Setting up a business, social enterprise, or community-interest company.

Although VCKC is based in Kensington and Chelsea, and we have particularly strong links in the West London area, InsideOut is a London-wide project.

InsideOut makes a difference where other organisations do not. The support we offer is holistic, client-led, and relational. We do not rush our clients or treat our intervention as a transaction. Rather, we see our role as facilitators, enabling the client to find stability, achieve their goals, and ultimately support others in their communities to do the same.

As an InsideOut Support Volunteer you will provide timely and effective support to the InsideOut Coordinator with a range of project-related tasks on the project. You will be managed and supported by the Coordinator, but will also need to be able to work independently at times.

What you will be doing

• Supporting clients with writing CVs, disclosure letters, and other application-related tasks.
• Conducting research and compiling information for clients related to the goals they have set (e.g. on college courses or job roles).
• Signposting clients to relevant support services and supporting the building of strong knowledge and partnerships with a range of external organizations.
• Contacting clients who have lost touch with the project for reporting and monitoring purposes and to assess what additional support they may need.
• Supporting the publicity, marketing, and communications for InsideOut.
• Supporting project administration and record-keeping for safeguarding and reporting purposes, using Plinth, a client relationship management platform.

What we are looking for

• Knowledge of and/or interest in the criminal justice system
• Experience with, or training in, support work or a related area (desirable)
• Good communication skills – both written and verbal
• Strong digital and administrative skills
• Experience of using a CRM-system, as well as Google and Microsoft Office suites (desirable)
• Ability to conduct research on behalf of clients and present results in an accessible way
• Organized, hardworking, and flexible
• Positive, supportive, and non-judgemental attitude towards InsideOut clients

When and Where

• Between a half and one and a half days per week, ideally on Mondays, Wednesday and/or Fridays. 
• The majority of this volunteer work will be based at VCKC’s office: 1 Thorpe Close, London, W10 5XL.
• There will be the option of occasional travel across London or visiting HMP Downview or HMP High Down prison to meet with clients if that is desirable.

What you could get out of it

• Experience of working to support people caught up in the Criminal Justice system
• Experience of working in a custodial setting
• Working alongside a highly skilled, multi-disciplinary team within a historic and innovative voluntary sector organisation
• Ability to apply existing skills and develop new ones
• Invitation to socials and opportunities to participate in wider VCKC events
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of InsideOut
• Being able to see the real difference you are making to individuals and the wider community
• References in support of future applications

Support/Training offered

• All our volunteers are covered by our insurance.
• All volunteers will be invited to team meetings and events.
• All volunteers will have an induction and will be offered continuous training and supervision to make sure they feel comfortable in their role.
• Regular supervision and one-to-one support provided by our experienced and dedicated InsideOut Coordinator