Nacro, the crime reduction charity, has strongly backed Baroness Neuberger's call for more ex-offenders to be able to volunteer. Paul Cavadino, Nacro's Chief Executive, said:

"Around 12 per cent of Nacro's volunteers are former offenders who have left crime behind them. Their contribution to our work is invaluable. They are often particularly keen to help young people on the brink of offending to avoid making the same mistakes as they did. Their past experience at the sharp end of the penal system and their commitment to turning their lives around can make them excellent and credible role models for young people.

"Criminal justice agencies should make more extensive use of suitable ex-offenders as volunteers. This would have real benefits for the quality of rehabilitation programmes and of work to divert young people from offending."

Lawrence volunteers for Nacro in Bournemouth as a football coach and referee on a project for young people at risk of offending. He won a Nacro volunteering award and has used his volunteering experience to kick start his career as a youth worker. Lawrence says:

“I got involved with Nacro after I’d gone into recovery. I was involved in substance abuse in a pretty heavy way for 15 years. It was quite bad and led me to some not very nice places. I thought I would like to give a bit back and help kids who were going through things I had been going through. I’m now qualified as a level one coach, so I can take my own football sessions. I also volunteer as a mentor – that’s what I would like to do as a career. I work part-time as a youth worker, a job I got through my involvement with Nacro, and I’m training to be a youth worker full time.

“The young people seem to trust you more because they know where you come from. I can tell them I was brought up in the same environment. I have had cards from kids thanking me. The work is relationship-building really. And the kids can take a lot of their anger on to the football pitch, rather than smashing something or someone up. Being involved with Nacro has definitely helped my career, and my confidence is absolutely booming.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Lawrence’s story is quoted in the Guardian Guide to Volunteering 2007
2. Nacro’s work is helped by approximately 1000 volunteers across England and Wales. Nacro positively engages ex-offenders to become volunteers and encourages many of its 90,000 service users to take up volunteering roles in the community.