Hertfordshire residents with an interest in the criminal justice system can volunteer to help young people in trouble with the law.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Services for Young People relies on community-minded volunteers to help guide and advise young offenders and young people who have been arrested and been before the Courts.

Volunteers on Youth Offender Panels give communities a say in how young offenders can repair the harm they have done and help them to take responsibility for their actions. Each panel is made up of two volunteers and one member of the local Youth Offending Team and works with the young person and his or her family to draw up a programme aimed at tackling their behaviour.

Volunteers come from all walks of life and are all ages. They range from students wanting to gain experience of working with youngsters, to people who have retired and want to contribute to their community.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Allan Siao Ming Witherick is supportive of the Youth Offender Panels and commended it saying “This is a really positive volunteering opportunity to not just put back in to the community your self, but to help someone else to do the same while getting back on track with their lives.”

Dorothy Welsh volunteers as a Youth Offender Panel Member.
“I am a Mum and I know kids do stupid things sometimes – so rather than criticise and make judgements, I like to get involved,” Dorothy said.
“You don’t have to be an expert to do this but you must care about young people, be a good listener and most of all believe that investing in young people now is a way to build a responsible and caring society.”

If you’re interested in volunteering with the service come along to the open evening on Thursday 3 February 2011 between 6:30pm and 8:30pm at The Noke Thistle Hotel, in Watford Road, St Albans.
There is no need to book, just turn up on the 3rd February to find out more.

The volunteer training course consists of three evenings and two Saturdays.

Thursday 17 February – 6:30 – 9pm
Saturday 19 February – 9:30am – 4pm
Thursday 24 February – 6:30pm – 9pm
Saturday 26 February – 9:30am – 4pm
Thursday 3 March 6:30 – 9pm

To find out more about volunteering for the Youth Justice Service go to www.yjb.gov.uk or call Jennie Jenner on 01992 556324.