Volunteering with Your Local Young Offenders Team

Volunteering with your local youth offending team lets you make a genuine contribution to your community. Youth crime remains one of the biggest issues facing UK cities and suburbs, though young people can get into trouble anywhere.

Before applying to work with young offenders, you'll likely need appropriate background clearance, so it's worth checking our free DBS Check Guide.

By helping out, you also support efforts to reduce reoffending and may positively influence young people going on to lead productive lives. Many volunteers find the work brings a real sense of achievement.

Voluntary Roles Within The Youth Offending Team

There are several areas within the youth justice system where you could offer your services:

• Resettlement and aftercare: helping juvenile ex-offenders re-enter the community after time in a young offenders institution, advising on employment and housing
• Mentoring: meeting young offenders once or twice a week to listen, offer support, and lead by example rather than giving formal advice
• Education and sports support: coaching sports teams or helping with basic reading, writing, and maths
• Youth Offending Panel: sitting alongside another volunteer and a staff member to speak with the young person and their parents, aiming to reach a written agreement about future behaviour
• Appropriate adult: by law, an adult must supervise police questioning of a youth if a parent is unavailable or is the alleged victim

DBS Check Guide

Not sure if you need a DBS check for volunteering? Answer a few questions about the role and find out what level of check is needed, how to apply, and how long it takes.

Try our DBS Check Guide free, here on this site →

Training As A Volunteer

You must be at least 18 to volunteer. You will receive thorough training covering communication and intervention techniques, understanding youth crime, and antisocial behaviour. Further courses and specialist workshops are also available.

Volunteering could lead to the Effective Practice Mini Award, an entry point to the National Qualifications Framework. If you are considering a career in youth law or social work, this role offers valuable knowledge, practical experience, and a pathway to higher education.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Personal Qualities Needed

Useful qualities include strong interpersonal skills, especially listening, and the ability to relate to people from all backgrounds. You will need tact, patience, and respect for confidentiality. Sensitivity to a young person's problems, whether they seem minor or serious, matters. Reliability, flexibility, and effective teamwork are also expected.

Working with your local youth offending team can be challenging but rewarding. To find out how to get involved, contact your local team directly.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our DBS Check Guide lets you not sure if you need a DBS check for volunteering? Answer a few questions about the role and find out what level of check is needed, how to apply, and how long it takes. Try it now →