Why Volunteer
Only around 70 prisoners in the UK will not be released. The remaining 87,000 people will be returning to their communities. These people often lack support or do not know how to access the support available to them, leading them to rely on old, harmful behaviours. These people deserve the opportunity to change their lives and build a positive future.
Footprints is a small charity. We run five overarching projects, Mentoring, Second Chances, Female Out of Court Diversionary, Approved Premises and Youth support. We also run a range of pilots, one-off projects and events that all require people to develop, support and run them. The Footprints project supports over 200 people a year through these projects.
We rely on volunteers who are willing to give their time to support our projects and missions. Our volunteers change people’s lives and support them as they take their first steps in the community. We are ever grateful for all the time our volunteers give to us and the people we support, however there are still more people who need support for them to remain on a path away from crime.
Be the positive influence in a person’s life so they can build a meaningful existence in the community we all share.
"Footprints has a long history of training volunteers to be part of the local solution to crime."
We have a range of opportunities and roles for people wanting to help, ranging in direct to non-direct contact with people we support, local, travelling and remote opportunities, number of hours and flexibility and level of responsibility.
Volunteer Mentors
Our volunteer mentors are at the heart of our work. Walking alongside someone can be the key to a meaningful change in behaviour. The work is not easy and can be frustrating, but it can also be highly rewarding to see people making positive changes in their lives.
As a volunteer mentor, you’ll usually have weekly meetings with a person normally face-to-face. You may also need to visit a person in prison or meet them at the gate on the day of release. You’ll be accompanied by a member of staff and through these moments, you can begin changing someone’s life from the moment they step outside.
The support you offer to these people will help them move away from harmful behaviour, develop practical skills and adjust to a life outside of prison. You’ll support them to complete referrals and applications for housing and benefit, accompany them to appointments and help them look for voluntary or paid work.
All our volunteer mentors are given a dedicated telephone for their work and will have your transportation expenses fully refunded on behalf of the Footprints Project. If you think you can be that positive force in a person’s life so they can live a meaningful life free from crime, don’t hesitate to get in contact.
Second Chances Art Volunteer
Footprints runs therapeutic art support for vulnerable women who are always looking for more help during their weekly art sessions in Boscombe. Volunteering here, you’ll need to be friendly and chatty. You’ll be part of the system maintaining the safe space where women can relax, build social skills and improve their mental health.
Whether you’re a professional or someone who just enjoys arts and crafts, this role could be for you as no skill is required. You’ll be supported by our professional local artists and Footprints staff and will receive any training necessary for the role.
Most importantly, you’ll be supporting women who mostly just need somewhere they can go to breathe and enjoy themselves.
Community Fundraiser and Events Volunteer
Come join our community fundraising and events team. You’ll help coordinate local initiatives, such as running collections at supermarkets, organising fundraising events like county markets and stalls or arranging tickets events and talks.
This team is ideal for someone who wants to help, is organised and needs flexibility. It’s completely home-based so you don’t need to be in the heart of Dorchester or Hampshire to do it. Support Footprints by helping us engage with the community and build funding for our future.
Social Media and Website Volunteer
Footprints are constantly changing and improving our services. We are a charity with 20+ years of experience and have the foundations to improve lives across Dorchester and Hampshire. However, large portions of the community are unaware of the important work we do, changes to that work or the pilots and new projects in development. If you’re looking to support us and have any experience in writing, social media or website copy, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Our social media and website team work together with staff to produce social media content, primarily on Facebook, newsletters, blogs, marketing for upcoming events and content for the website. You’ll ensure the information is accurate, impactful and reaches the public we support.
This is a home-based role currently based in copy writing however if you have graphic design skills or videography skills, do not hesitate to reach out. Help us reach people and become a social media and website volunteer.
Woodworking, Cooking or Gardening Volunteer Instructors
Footprints runs classes on Approved Premises (APs), probation-run locations for people who, despite completing their sentence, are considered at high risk of harm to the public. They are required to reside in these locations, often far from friends, families and positive influences for the first 3-6 months in the community. These people, often who have spent the majority of their adult life inside prison, can struggle with necessary life skills such as budgeting and cooking, many do not have any qualifications and many do not know how to move forward into the crime-free life they want.
To support people on APs, we run courses that teach life, social and employment skills that will prepare them for life in the community. We run;
A cookery in various locations across Bournemouth, Waymouth, Fareharm and Waterlooville, teaching budget friendly meals that are tasty, nutritious and easy to make,
An allotment in Waterlooville and Poole, growing vegetables, fruits and herbs, and
Woodworking and carpentry, formerly in Grange HMP, Waterlooville and St. Anne’s Hospital, Bournemouth where participants learnt to build birdhouses, planters and wooden decorations. Our previous woodworking specialist has moved on to different projects however we are eager to restart these courses.
Your role will be to teach and support your chosen course (either cooking, gardening or woodwork), developing their skills in the subject alongside social skills and community, life skills including budgeting and employment and transferable skills. You will not be required to make the course materials and will be supported by staff with experience on the APs.
If you have skills in cooking, gardening or woodworking and believe you can support these people trying to improve their lives, don’t hesitate to reach out. Be the difference that lets these people lead meaningful lives in the community.
Other Volunteering Opportunities
Footprints created the volunteering teams to fill gaps in our support however there are many other ways you can support us. From running mental health workshops to supporting us with administration work.
If you want to volunteer with us and believe you have a skill that you could use, don’t hesitate to get in contact. We are more than happy to develop projects and schemes around people’s unique abilities and skills to best support the people in or returning to our community. A couple hours of volunteering from you can change the lives of the people we support, those they love and the community around them.
To find out more about being a part of the Administration and Support team, Becoming a Trustee or how your skills can help people in your community, contact us at info@footprintsproject.co.uk or read How to Apply here.
