Description
Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?
Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team. We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison. Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.
Volunteer recruitment dates: The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 25 January 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 6 January and 6 February 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.
Training: You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows. Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:
- 17 February 2026, 10am - 1pm (via Teams)
- 24 February 2026, 10am - 1pm (via Zoom)
- 3 March 2026, 10am - 1pm (via Zoom)
- 24 March 2026, 10am - 4pm (in person session, London)
You'll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.
The impact you'll have
Over 70% of people in prison, and 15% in the community, have a literacy level below that of an 11 year old. Many cannot read at all. This means they have reduced access to education, training and rehabilitation programmes which could transform their lives, and give them hope for a better future outside of the criminal justice system.
Our programme directly aims to combat this and give those in prisons the tools and support they need to pursue wider opportunities and thrive in the community.
The skills you'll need
You will need to have the following skills in order to participate:
Commitment to providing non-judgemental support, strong communication skills, deliver engaging training, identify support needs for mentors, good time management skills.
Directions - public transport
Cardiff Prison is about a mile from Cardiff Central station and next to Cardiff Queen Street station.
Directions - car
Please use the postcode CF24 0UG for driving directions. There is a free visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
There is no visitor parking but there is an NCP multi-story car park directly opposite the prison. The road outside the prison also allows Blue Badge holders to make short stops.
Location
HMP Cardiff, Knox Road, CF24 0UG
When
Start date
07/12/2025
Commitment
Ongoing
Available Slots
1
You will need
Minimum age: 18