Prison to Community Link Volunteer

Location: The role will be based in Exeter, with the potential to meet some people from Channing’s Wood Prison near Newton Abbot.

Timing: Volunteering days between Monday - Friday and offering 8-12 hours a week with exact days/hours being flexible

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

Together Drug and Alcohol Service is the commissioned community drug and alcohol provision for Devon. It provides a range of support, interventions and treatments for those wanting to make positive changes to their drug and/or alcohol use, as well raising awareness and supporting family members.

We have a dedicated Criminal Justice Team that helps people who have become involved in the criminal justice system and who wish to make changes to their drug and/or alcohol use. This involves writing reports to the Court in line with community sentencing, liaising with Probation in order to facilitate Court Orders relating to drug and/or alcohol use and supporting those released from prison as they transition back to community living.

Role overview:

We are looking for a volunteer to meet people on the day they are released from prison, who can support these individuals to attend initial appointments across organisations in the community.

This role would be well suited to someone looking to gain experience working within the criminal justice system and who is willing to develop understanding of the challenges the early days of living back in the community can bring.
Individuals with lived experience are also strongly encouraged.

Volunteers would need to be available from 8am on the day(s) they volunteer, to meet clients in the reception lounge of HMP Exeter // HMP Channing’s Wood.

Tasks may include:

• Supporting people to attend appointments with probation, allocated police officers or Together Drug and Alcohol Services.
• Providing a supportive, non-judgemental and listening ear.
• Co-facilitating group support sessions, including SMART Recovery meetings (training provided)
• Signposting to other activities / support the service user to work alongside other organisations e.g. GP or additional mental health support services.

All volunteers are asked to adhere to organisational policies including safeguarding, information governance and health and safety.

We would love you to bring to this role:

• A confident and friendly approach
• A willingness to learn
• Ability to problem solve

• Awareness of the challenges / barriers faced by people entering / at risk of entering the criminal justice system

Skills we would like you to bring to the role:

• Confident IT skills – aside from any IT skills required for the role, some of our mandatory training is done online through eLearning modules
• Professional, honest and committed
• Non-judgmental towards people with lived experience of criminal justice, drugs/alcohol addiction and recovery, mental health or other associated issues
• Good time keeping
• Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction
• A driving licence and own transport would be an advantage but is not essential
• An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website, and you can call a specific project to make enquiries.
• A genuine interest in being part of the mission, vision and promise of Waythrough

Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: [email protected] 

How to apply 

If you’re viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click ‘Apply via company website’ to view the full job description and submit your application. 

Please note that while this role has a stated closing date, we reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a high number of applications.

Closing date: