Many thanks to those who responded to our appeal in the last CORRvolunteer for prospective ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutors. As a consequence, a number of volunteers in the Wellington area will shortly undergo training with ESOL Home Tutors to equip them to provide this service in Rimutaka and Arohata prisons.
The work that many volunteers and their organisations do with prisoners doesn’t stop at the prison gates. An increasing number of volunteers provide support to prisoners post-release, and this work is hugely important in supporting successful reintegration.
Unfortunately some of the volunteer induction training delivered by the Department has discouraged volunteers from undertaking post-release work while volunteering in a prison. We apologise for the confusion and uncertainty this has caused, and will be working to eliminate this confusion in the future.
The Department acknowledges that many prison volunteers are also involved in supporting prisoners post-release, and does not consider one role incompatible with the other.
Your news, views, feedback and contributions for future editions of CORRvolunteer are more than welcome.
Please contact the National Advisor: Volunteers through:
ISSN 1179-2884