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Community chaplaincy puts out call for volunteer mentors

Community chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN), which supports people coming out of prison, is inviting volunteers to join its next training course, which begins on Wednesday February 19. It will take place at the Kings Centre, 63-71 King Street, Norwich NR1 1PH.

The six-week formation course will prepare people to become mentors for ex-offenders, helping them to re-integrate into society and find fulfilling roles to rebuild self-esteem.

CCN is based at St Stephen’s church in Norwich. It is a Christian charity which works with all denominations, and the mentors will support ex-offenders of any or no faith background. Volunteers need to be at least 25 years old, be good listeners, with an authoritative but friendly manner, be non-judgmental, understand confidentiality and have some basic computer skills.

Mentors will normally visit selected men in HMP Norwich or Wayland, to begin to form a relationship with them, and then support them through face-to-face meetings and telephone calls after their release.

This kind of support has been shown to reduce reoffending rates, and to help ex-offenders build positive habits and relationship networks.

“Take a look at me,” said one client. “I was a bad boy. I committed crime…and I’ve turned my life around and I feel so much better for it. I don’t want to do stupid things. I don’t want to lose what I’ve done: I’ve worked so hard for it.”

If you are interested in the mentor role, please contact the Project Leader Melanie Wheeler on info@norfolkchaplaincy.org.uk . You can download an application form from the website https://norfolkchaplaincy.org.uk/volunteering

You can also read our previous story about CCN here.

The picture shows Project Leader Mel Wheeler with mentors at CCN 

 

 

  


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