Court support volunteer - Pact
Prison Advice and Care Trust
To support defendants and their families through the Court process -
Pact - (Prison advice and care trust) are recruiting and training Court support volunteers to provide defendants and their families moral, emotional and practical support at Maidstone Crown Court. Volunteers will talk to families as they wait for a Court hearing, sit with the family in Court, provide practical advice and guidance during this stressful time. Volunteers must be able to be non-judgmental and empathetic and able to manage sometimes emotionally challenging situations. Pact provide full training and support.
Advice, Information & Support
Listening, Organising & Planning, Talking To Others, Managing People, Teamwork, Counselling, Reasoning
Confident in approaching, talking to and engaging with members of the public. Active listening. Excellent communication skills. Excellent emotional intelligence Experience at working with a diverse range of people. Experience at working with people going throuh challenging circumstances, An ability to offer non-judgmental and impartial (particularly when working with clients convicted of serious crimes) support. Able to manage people experiencing conflicting emotions. An ability to manage challenging behaviours Ability to diffuse tension.
A unique opportunity to help people at an extremely challenging time. Being able to comfort someone at a time of stress and upset. Knowing you have provided practical advice to people who have no other means of support. Knowing you are working for a project that doesn't exist in any other Court setting in Kent. You will have your feelings challenged and possibly changed by working in this unique environment. You will be a vital part of the UK criminal justice system - and by working with defendants and their families you will understand that everyone is innocent until proved guilty and that family support is of huge significance. A chance to make a real difference to a family or defendant.
minimum of 1 x 3 hour shift per week.
ME16 8EQ
Maidstone Combined Court Barker Rd Maidstone ME16 8EQ
Maidstone West station
5
