Prison Fellowship volunteering opportunity

This online event will take place from 7pm until 8pm on Friday, 21st July 

The Prison Fellowship have growing opportunities from many prisons across the country, for volunteers to run Sycamore Tree programmes, support Chaplaincy ministry, support Angel Tree at Christmas and much more.

Come along and find out how you can make a difference in the lives of people in prison and hear what it is like to be part of their journey of transformation.

SYCAMORE TREE

Sycamore Tree is a volunteer-led victim awareness programme that teaches the principles of restorative justice. It is taught in prisons in groups of up to 20 learners, over a 6-week period. Learners on the programme explore the effects of crime on victims, offenders, and the wider community, and discuss what it would mean to take responsibility for their personal actions.

For most learners on Sycamore Tree the most powerful element of the programme is when a victim of crime comes in to talk through how crime has impacted their lives. Learners have an opportunity in the final session to express their remorse – some write letters, poems or create works of art or craft. Members of the community are invited to support and bear witness to these symbolic acts of restitution.

CHAPLAINCY SUPPORT

Prison Fellowship’s chaplaincy work has a huge potential for changing lives, but of all the work that our volunteers do, it is perhaps the hardest to explain! Chaplaincy Support looks different in every prison, and volunteers fill many different roles.

Prison Chaplaincies are a multi-faith team inside the prison that care for the spiritual and emotional well-being of people in prison, and help with some aspects of prisoner rehabilitation. People in prison often have limited opportunities to spend time outside their cells in meaningful activities, so the services that Chaplaincy offer can be a lifeline.

Led by the individual chaplains themselves, PF Volunteers assist chaplaincies in a wide variety of ways. Examples include assisting with services and small groups that happen in the Chaplaincy, providing practical support and visiting prisoners.

ANGEL TREE

Angel Tree gives parents in prison the opportunity to send a Christmas present to their children.

Christmas is especially difficult for prisoners and their children. Angel Tree lessens the devastation experienced as a result of parental absence by not only helping families connect and build relationships, but by providing children with much-needed joy.

Prison Fellowship volunteers work with prison chaplains and local churches to buy, wrap and deliver the presents. As long as prisoners are allowed access to their children, they are given the opportunity to apply for a gift to be sent to them.

Each gift is dispatched as though it is from the parent in prison and is accompanied by a personal message written by the parent for their child to make the gift extra special. The parent is also given the option of including an age-appropriate Christian story book in their child’s gift.