student and voluntary work

gingergee

I am a mature student (30) and start my degree in law and criminology in September. My friend works in a youth club and suggested i ask to volunteer on the evening the police referred kids go. I'm willing to volunteer, but want to know how my degree will benefit??? I hope to work with offenders in the rehabilitation side eventually. Sorry not financial request wanted x:o

Dunroamin

Beng involved in a scheme which helps young offenders will give you some practical experience to flesh out the theoretical degree. Also, you're unikely to get a job in this field without substantial practical experience.

fishybusiness

Hi,

This is something I am involved in now. Finishing my degree in about 5 weeks

I volunteer with the local Youth Offending Service, they are very good to volunteers, we have training days, the odd volunteer development evening, and it seems like their workload and opportunities are endless.

Have a look at Restorative Justice, and Youth Offender Panels, this link is worth a read

http://www.do-it.org.uk/magazine/features/legalaidandjustice/yop

I believe RJ is becoming more widespread with respect to working with offenders, and working with YOS will give you the opportunity to get the training and practice.

Also, if you go for volunteering with the YOS, they will more than likely ask you if you want to be a mentor - a great experience, for which you will be guided and supported.

Volunteer training gives you insight in to the work, the rules, regulations, contacts with the staff, and more.

My degree is a psychology degree, so parts of it are relevant to youth work, especially the criminal psych, I guess yours will be more relevant, so having volunteer experience you will be able to put theory and practice togther.

Hope that helps.

chonorla

gingergee wrote: »

I am a mature student (30) and start my degree in law and criminology in September. My friend works in a youth club and suggested i ask to volunteer on the evening the police referred kids go. I'm willing to volunteer, but want to know how my degree will benefit??? I hope to work with offenders in the rehabilitation side eventually. Sorry not financial request wanted x:o

Any relevant voluntary work will help with your degree and when gaining employment afterwards. I have a BA hons in Criminal Justice and am currently doing my Masters in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

I undertook voluntary work while doing my degree and walked straight into a job after finishing my degree, which I do believe had helped. I then went from one job to one other job over the next 6 years before I returned to uni to start my Masters. And they were always very interested in my voluntary positions and why I had done them.

I only did voluntary positions of around 3 hours a week as I was a single parent and also had cleaning/bar jobs to work around my son. I have now just had baby number 4 (13 days ago ) and I am back to uni this Friday as I could not take a maternity break unfortunately, but I am currently looking into finding another voluntary position to run alongside next years studying.

It does help with your studying too as you can relate/understand/empathise more with the areas you are studying.

Good luck!!!

joolsybools

There is also Nacro who take on volunteers. http://www.nacro.org.uk/work-for-us/volunteer-and-sessional-jobs/voluntary-positions.html

joolsybools

Also worth writing to your local probation office http://www.nationalprobationservice.co.uk/