Hours: Dependent on volunteer availability and project need

Ref CVM-232 (Vol)

Are you a dynamic, collaborative and creative individual with a proven record of engaging positively with young people vulnerable groups and families? Do you have experience of providing support, advice and advocacy and the ability to assess clients’ needs?

If so, join St Giles Trust as a Community Violence Volunteer Mentor working on our CIRV service, supporting young people, adults and families who have been or at high risk of being affected by violence offending and or exploitation.

About St Giles Trust and Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV)

An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) is a pilot service running across Wolverhampton and Coventry which seeks to engage children, young people and adults at risk who are within the criminal justice system due to criminality and violence and provide them with effective interventions to reduce the risk of reoffending and violence.

CIRV project is run through the Violence Reduction Unit and is a collaboration between West Midlands Police and a variety of agencies, including St Giles Trust. The service is for children and young people aged 14 years and older that are at risk of, or are experiencing, group-based violence and exploitation. St Giles Trust mentors will engage and support these young people and when their risk of violence has reduced, the young person will work with a volunteer mentor before exiting the service.

About this key role

Our CIRV Volunteer Mentor will engage and support young people, adults, and families once they have been identified as being involved in a violence-related incident, being at risk of exploitation or gang-affiliated and build positive relationships with the clients and their families, plus work directly with them in order to promote positive change, build resilience, and prevent young people from experiencing significant harm.

As a mentor, you will be non-judgmental, reliable and respectful of the young person’s autonomy. You are not there to tell them what to do, your role is to explore options with them, support them to make good decisions and act as a transfer of trust between the young person and other agencies.

What we expect from you:

To strive for the best that you can do and complete your volunteering activities with dedication and commitment

To attend any briefings and training that we think will help you in your placement

Be positive about and support the work of St Giles

Follow and operate within the policies and procedures of the organisation, including Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities

Act responsibly and within the law

Maintain confidentiality of St Giles activity, our clients, our team and our procedures

Value and respect the rights of clients

Work in partnership with staff and volunteers to make society a better place for our beneficiaries

Let your volunteer manager know if you are having any problems or if you have any complaints, concerns or feedback

Meet agreed time commitments and give reasonable notice when you’re not available so that arrangements can be made.

In return you will be introduced to how our organisation works and your role within it. Give information about St Giles work, policies, and procedures. Offer training, group supervision and support. Deliver a Level 2 Mentoring qualification.

Please note this role requires Enhanced Adult and Children DBS with the Child Barred List.

To apply, please visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button. Please apply early as interviews will be conducted when suitable applications are received.

Closing Date: 11 p.m. on 29 February 2024

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.