Volunteers make a difference with prisoners

Volunteers make a difference with prisoners

Every week hundreds of members of the public voluntarily go to prison because they want to make a difference with offenders.

Corrections has 2,000 registered volunteers and each year they make around 20,000 visits to New Zealand’s prisons to work with prisoners.

This year Corrections is recognising ten volunteers for National Volunteer Week (21-27 June). Those being recognised are three literacy tutors, three kaumatua, three women who teach knitting to male prisoners and a Gamblers Anonymous volunteer.

“Prison volunteers come in to prison because they want to make a difference,” says Barbara Jennings, National Advisor Volunteers. “Volunteers do important work supporting Corrections’ goal of reducing re-offending by helping offenders meet their rehabilitative needs and transition back into society,”

“National Volunteer Week is a time we thank our volunteers and celebrate the invaluable knowledge, skill and time contribution they make in our prisons.

One of the volunteers being recognised is Caroline Keddie, a former teacher aide, who volunteers at Spring Hill Corrections Facility teaching literacy to prisoners, one on one.

“I’ve always wanted to help people and I do believe in people being given a second chance in life,” says Caroline. “Some of the people [in prison] have never been given a first chance, let alone a second one.”

Volunteering at the prison is “one of the most rewarding jobs,” she says. “The reward is in the job we do, the results we see. It makes it all worthwhile to see them improve and want to get on with their lives.”

Fellow Spring Hill volunteer David Slack works for Gamblers Anonymous at the prison. Drawing on his own experience, David gives the prisoners hope that they can overcome their gambling addictions.

“Quite a few prisoners are there because of a gambling addiction,” says David. “Until you come to that realisation, it’s like an untreated sickness that gets worse not better. Most people have no self worth when they are involved in gambling.

“I’ve seen amazing changes in the men from when they first started. Volunteering is very fulfilling. It’s exciting to see changes in people’s lives. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to give hope to people who have no hope.”

Volunteers support and complement Corrections’ services and constructive activities for prisoners, for example in music, health and wellbeing, cultural and religious services, reading and writing, parenting/life skills or supporting other rehabilitation and reintegration programmes we offer.

ENDS

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