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Volunteer Mentor West Midlands
Trailblazers’ mission is to reduce re-offending and inspire new futures for young men leaving prison. As a volunteer mentor, you’ll help someone reconnect with their community, rebuild relationships, and access education, training, or employment—offering hope and a fresh start.
We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and skill sets. All we ask is that you bring a genuine passion for social change and can commit to supporting at least one young man for up to 18 months—providing the consistency and encouragement that many of our mentees have never had.
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Commitment
Flexible
Format
Onsite
Eligibility
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Your Role in Creating Change
Make a lasting impact. Become a Trailblazers mentor.
Trailblazers has been providing mentoring services to people in prison since 1998, with the ultimate aim of reducing re-offending. We support men aged 18–35 who are within six months of release from HMPYOI Brinsford in Wolverhampton, and continue mentoring them through the gate into their communities for up to 12 months.
The difference our mentors make is powerful. The national re-offending rate for people leaving prison without a Trailblazers mentor is up to 55%. For those supported by a Trailblazers mentor, that rate drops to just 7%.
As a charity, we rely on the dedication of volunteers. With your help, we can continue supporting people in prison to make meaningful changes in their lives, their families, and wider society.
What does the role involve?
Volunteer mentors are given full training before being carefully matched with their mentee. During the one-to-one mentoring sessions, the pair work on individualised action plans which focus on changing behaviour and building a positive future post-release. For up to 6 months, mentors will meet their mentee in custody and then continue their support in the community.
Mentoring sessions typically last one hour, but we ask for additional time to allow for travel and coordination with Trailblazers staff. We’re looking for volunteer mentors who can commit to around half a day per week.
As a mentor, you’ll support men to set goals, build confidence, and navigate challenges—acting as a positive role model and trusted guide.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for mentors who are:
- Knowledgeable about the criminal justice system and the challenges faced by mentees (desirable – full training provided)
- Aware of professional boundaries and able to report concerns that may relate to risk or safeguarding
- Advocates for mentees, actively seeking opportunities for resettlement in collaboration with Trailblazers staff
- Non-judgmental, focusing on the person rather than the offence
- Professional yet relatable, with strong communication skills
- Aware of adversity and how to help mentees overcome barriers and build supportive networks
- Comfortable with basic IT tasks
- Open to receiving guidance and feedback from Trailblazers staff
Eligibility criteria
To become a Trailblazers mentor, you must:
- Be aged 21 or over
- Live within a 30-mile radius of HMPYOI Brinsford
- Be a British citizen (due to prison security requirements)
- Not be barred from working with vulnerable adults or children
- Be physically fit enough to move around the prison at a fast pace, including using stairs
- Not have been a resident in the same prison where you wish to volunteer
- If you have lived experience of the criminal justice system, you must be off licence for at least 12 months and not currently in crisis
What support will you receive?
- Full induction training
- Out-of-pocket expenses covered
- A mobile phone to protect your identity
- Trailblazers T-shirt and lanyard
- DBS check costs covered
- Regular reflective practice sessions
We are currently recruiting for volunteer mentors at HMPYOI Brinsford near Wolverhampton. Join us and be part of a community that believes in second chances and lasting change.
To apply for this role, please complete the application form on Trailblazers website: www.trailblazersmentoring.org.uk/become-a-mentor/
To apply for this role, please complete the application form on Trailblazers website: www.trailblazersmentoring.org.uk/become-a-mentor/
Where You'll Be
What to Expect After Applying
To apply for this role, please complete the application form on Trailblazers website: www.trailblazersmentoring.org.uk/become-a-mentor/
About Trailblazers Mentoring
Inspire New Futures
Trailblazers is a UK charity which provides 1:1 mentorship and practical support to people in prison and post release. Our goals are to prevent reoffending and improve outcomes for those leaving prison. This is achieved through intensive weekly, one-to-one mentoring sessions conducted by a large cohort of volunteer mentors. Each individual is matched with a skilled volunteer mentor, who they meet with weekly for up to 6 months in prison, and then 12 months post release. This is augmented with practical support to ensure the basics for re-settlement are in place at the time of release, and in the early months post-release – a critical period for many. Our work inspires and encourages people to change their future, rebuild their lives and make a positive impact on their community.
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