We are looking for a volunteer to provide vital emotional support, practical information and signposting to families and friends when someone close to them is going through trial, sentenced or remanded to custody.
Volunteers in the role are also expected to promote the charity and our services to court staff and legal professionals. Volunteers will receive full training to prepare them for this role and the role provides a rare opportunity to volunteer in the criminal courts.
Your duties will include the following:
- Identify from the court lists and through liaising with court staff, such as list callers, ushers and probation, the court cases where custody is anticipated
- Offer emotional support to the friends and family of defendants.
- Be available to families who may need assistance or information.
- Quietly observe court cases where custody is possible or anticipated and where families are present.
- Tactfully approach families where custody has occurred with the offer of information, such as an SPF leaflet, how to arrange a prison visit and services that can bed accessed from other agencies
- Where families are not present and imprisonment occurs, approach defence council with the offer of information about the charity for families and their office.
- Develop good relations with court staff such as; ushers, probation, witness service, security, court clerks, and reception and cells staff – promoting the organisation and
service to them.
- Ensure court leaflet racks are stocked up with SPF leaflets
- Provide regular updates to SPF staff and to raise issues via individual and group support
sessions.
- Record details of all information given out to families/defence council/other agencies at court on SPF monitoring forms and send back to office regularly
- To champion the service and pass on information on the experience of volunteering by attending SPF events and activities
What skills do I need?
- Has an interest in the needs of prisoners’ families
- Professional and reliable.
- Friendly and approachable.
- Compassionate.
- Displays excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
- Has the ability to communicate confidently with a wide range of people.
- Able to work well independently.
- Able to show respect for the traditions of the court.
- Able to take a non-judgemental approach.
- Willing to work within boundaries and in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Able to keep a basic record of information given out at court and return this information
via an online form
- Applicants will be required to attend an interview and provide two independent references.
- Available to attend training, support and development sessions.
When do I need to be available?
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Details
Volunteers in this role should be available to attend crown court (in either Lewes, Brighton or Hove) or Magistrates court (in either Worthing, Crawley or Hastings) on at least one half day a week during court hours (which are usually 9.00am – 4.00pm), for a minimum period of six months.
Suitable candidates will be required to attend an interview and 2 days of training in Brighton. Applications for our training in January 2026 have now closed, however we're likely to be recruiting again in the summer and would be happy to hear from you if you'd be interested in applying then.
