Meet our staff and volunteers

Claire, volunteer mentor, writes about her experience

Claire a volunteer mentor for Footprints writes about her experience Read more

Stuart talks about his journey from drugs and crime to his new role in Footprints

Life Works is a partnership with Parkstone United Reformed Church offering basic skills training, volunteer opportunities and work experience to vulnerable people including, but not limited to, ex-offenders and people suffering from mental health or addiction problems. Support to overcome barriers to work and build self-esteem is also provided.

Our vision

Our vision is to build stronger, more integrated local communities by providing person centred support for offenders or those who are at risk of offending, reducing reoffending and increasing life chances. 46% of all prisoners will re-offend within a year of release. For those serving short custodial sentences and young offenders this raises to over 80%.

Mentoring

We offer mentoring and practical support for those who are living in or are returning to live in Dorset, and Hampshire. Staff will visit people in prison to assess their needs around housing, education training and employment, finance and debt, mental and physical health, substance misuse, families and children as well as attitudes, thinking and behaviour. The staff will then co-produce an action plan for release with the client.

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Meet the team

Referral details for Hampshire and Dorset. General Enquiries, press and media enquiries.

Volunteer for us

Our volunteers come from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, faiths and ages. Each has their own reason for volunteering including a chance to give back and support those less fortunate, to share my life experience and skills, to make a difference, to gain skills or experience to enable students to progress to a career in support or criminal justice services, a chance to expand their horizons and meet new people or to help us fundraise to keep the work going.

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Female Out of Court Diversionary Scheme

In partnership with Dorset Police and PCC we have developed Out of Court Diversionary Scheme for women at the point of arrest for the first time or those who have a previous criminal record but have not offended in the past 2 years and are classified as vulnerable. These women are given a conditional caution and opportunity to work with us rather than progressing to court. Vulnerabilities include mental health problems, women living in coercive or controlling relationships, domestic violence