Volunteer
Volunteers play a key part on the StandOut course, giving their time and expertise to support participants as they plan for life and work after prison.
Sessions involving volunteers are often a highlight for the people we work with, who gain much from the shared expertise of people from a diverse range of professional backgrounds and the valuable connections this can often bring.
StandOut volunteers join us at HMP Pentonville, HMP Wandsworth, and HMP Wormwood Scrubs for CV workshops, mock interviews, and the end of course graduation.
Graduation
Half day (AM or PM)
The end of course graduation is an opportunity for course participants to reflect on their learning, step out of their comfort zone and celebrate their own and each other’s achievements during the course. It’s an inspiring event and volunteers are invited as guests to join in the celebrations, network with participants and hear first-hand about their ambitions for the future.
CV workshop
Half day (AM or PM)
A professional CV is essential to securing a job. As a volunteer, you’ll join us in prison to support someone to plan and produce their CV. You’ll encourage the person you’re working with to consider their key skills, strengths and play a key role in building their confidence.
Mock interviews
Half day (AM or PM)
For some people on the course, the mock interview session is their first experience of a professional interview and an opportunity to use key skills they’ve developed over the course so far. As a volunteer, you’ll play the role of interviewer for a job that the participant is interested in. A highlight of this session is sharing positive feedback and seeing people’s confidence grow.
If you’re interested in sharing your time and expertise, and are committed to supporting people to rebuild their lives after prison - we’d love to hear from you.
“Today was really useful. I had my own ideas coming in but I found out some really useful things, worked on my CV and my next steps are to chase up some opportunities and take on some advice for boosting my CV.”
StandOut stories
Nelena
“We arrived at the classroom where we would spend the next few hours, each of us working with a StandOut participant due to be released from prison soon, to help build their CV. The classroom was colourful and welcoming, with a sense of hope. On the walls were various workshop posters made by StandOut participants with messaging around a positive mindset and building resilience”.