The Slough youth offending team needs you
Slough Borough Council’s young offending team are looking for volunteers to act as either a responsible adults for the borough’s youngsters or as a volunteer to help with young people.
To become a Slough appropriate adult, residents must be available between the hours of 9am and 5pm, though they can decide how many days they are willing to be “on call” in any one week from Monday to Friday to help out as an appropriate adult in situations such as:
• When a young person under the age of 17 is taken to a designated police station as a detained person, and his parent or carer cannot or will not attend.
• When a young person under the age of 17 is being asked to gives a witness statement in regard to an incident they may have witnessed or been involved in.
• When a detained young person is asked to return to the police station for a further procedure. This may be as a result of police bail for instance (where a young person is released on bail to return to the police station at a later date). This is often the case with young offenders as decisions have to be made regarding a course of action to take.
• When a detained young person is asked to attend a police station to stand on or take part in an identification parade or other identification process.
They must also be 18 years or over, and not be a serving police officer or work for the police and a Criminal Bureau checks will be carried out by the YOT on all Slough applicants.
Because of the nature of appropriate adult work, it is never possible to say how long a volunteer may be needed for. Some appointments can be finished within the hour others can go on for several hours, depending on many factors. Because of this, volunteers are required to be flexible and be able to respond at short notice.
The youth offending team will always be at the end of a phone should support be required.
Full training will be given for this interesting role, and this will take place in early July 2007.
To become a volunteer to work alongside young people, volunteers must live or work in Slough, have an interest in the welfare of young people and want to help stop young people from offending and encourage them to be responsible members of their community.
Training will be given and volunteers must be prepared to commit to seven full days, four Fridays and three Saturdays.
Ann Jansen-East, volunteer and referral order co-ordinator for Slough Borough Council, said: “The YOT team are looking for individuals who are willing to give some of their time to the youngsters of Slough.
“It is a very rewarding job and an important role to take on.”
For further details please contact Ann Jansen-East, 01753 474181 / 522702, ann.jansen-east@slough.gov.uk
Slough Borough Council