Sophie Wilson Chief Operating Officer Expand What made you want to work for Sova? I was really attracted to the focus Sova had on supporting volunteers – which was my background. The range of projects were really interesting and I was keen to learn more about the criminal justice sector; which was Sova's focus at the time What do you enjoy about working for Sova? My role is complex, varied, challenging and never boring! The thing I enjoy most however is working directly with such a committed team – across both our operations and core services. We have more than 140 staff working at Sova, and I am always bowled over by their passion and integrity and their focus on supporting the people we work with. How do you feel the work you do benefits those you work with? Sova delivers services across two distinct work streams; Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Strengthening Communities. Our resettlement and rehabilitation services support adult offenders leaving custody and serving their sentences in the community, and much of this support is provided by trained volunteers. Having someone who is there because they want to be, and not because they are being paid to be, is a really powerful agent for change. Our fully trained mentors offer structured, focused support – developing action plans and regularly reviewing progress. We also offer case management support, which is provided by paid members of staff, and is usually focused around supporting the individual to gain employment, access training or enter education. We know that achievements in these areas significantly reduce the likelihood of re-offending and, again, we have had tremendous success in this area of our work. Our strengthening communities work stream covers the work we do with children, young people and families – in the heart of communities – to support those identified as ‘at risk’. This includes crucial services such as the Independent Visitors programmes which provide independent volunteer befrienders to support looked after children; offering them the chance to have a long-term, positive, relationship with an adult who is there ‘just for them’ and is not part of the system. Again, we know that these relationships are really important to children and young people and often last for many years – giving them stable and long term support. We also provide services from drop-in centres for children at risk; support to families and individuals in supported housing; employment support to long term unemployed and even family learning programmes to offenders and their pre-school children. All of this work is critical to strengthening our communities, and our volunteers are a big part of how we do this. If you could tell people about the work you do, or the impact Sova has, what would you say? A significant number of our clients have offended, or are at risk of offending – and a lot of people may think that these people don’t deserve our support. I disagree. The reasons behind offending behaviour are multiple and complex, and at Sova we are interested in the individual, not the offence. The vast majority of people we work with want to make a change, they want a positive future and if we can support them in doing that then local communities and society as a whole will benefit.
Casseale Elliott Case Manager, Sova Support Link Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? I enjoy working with my colleagues. We are a very strong team. We all get along so well and support each other at all times. I believe this is what makes a great working environment. I also love the fact that every day is not the same. I get to travel to all parts of London, meeting clients in probation offices, hostels and prisons. Working on the LPU wing assessing clients at HMP Brixton is very interesting and this is probably what I enjoy the most. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? I have supervised a large number of dedicated, committed volunteers over the past 2 years and they many of them have used the experience gained from Sova to further their careers within the probation service, NHS, mental health and the third sector. Sova has created opportunities for volunteers which directly changes their lives for the better. Our work benefits our clients as we provide essential support in their time of need. Our clients are usually very isolated and detached from society. We show them ways of how they can lead pro – social lives within their communities. Sova Support Link gives our clients the opportunity to see that they can have a positive future, keeping clear from crime and we show them that we are there to help them build the foundations. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? I manage a caseload of high risk/high harm offenders with personality disorders who have recently been released from custody - some having served 20 plus years in prison. Transitioning to the outside world can be terrifying for our clients and this is when support is most needed. Our volunteer mentors provide emotional and practical support which can range from going for a coffee and a chat to talk through their problems, to helping our clients apply for jobs, creating CVs, opening bank accounts, acquiring essential photo I.D and enrolling on educational courses. The list is endless. The impact Sova has on our clients is extremely positive and this has been relayed back to us on many occasions. Some of my clients have gone on to college or been given good stable jobs. The most important point is that my clients have not returned to prison. What is your proudest moment working for Sova? My proudest moment working for Sova was my own transition within the organisation. I myself started as a volunteer mentor and after successfully supporting a client, I decided to apply for my current role and got the job. It made me feel so proud to be working for an organisation that really does create opportunities for people.
Ruth Coates Programme Manager, Midlands and North Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? I love the people. The staff and the Volunteers are incredibly committed to supporting our Service Users and they do so with compassion and humanity. We form a strong team and I really feel that the strong values are shared by everyone in Sova; from the volunteer who gives a couple of hours a week to the back room support teams and all the way up to the Chief Operating Officer How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? I have often heard Sova referred to from Funders, Service Users and other partners as the ‘charity that will’. Meaning that if we can help we will find a way to do it- when other services have said no or felt it was just too difficult. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? I manage services and so it is my job to ensure that the teams have everything they need to undertake their work safely and to a high quality and inspire them to get the best results for our Service Users. This isn’t too difficult as they are dedicated and professional as well as being genuinely caring. What is your proudest moment working for Sova? This is difficult to answer. I am proud when someone we work for achieves great things such as getting a job or securing permanent housing. I am proud when I see a Sova team member working with a Service Users and they are responding really positively. I am proud when I attend meetings and Sova is complimented by another agency - it is vicarious pride because I am not front line- but hopefully I am part of creating an environment that allows Staff, Volunteers and Service Users to thrive and achieve.
Gaynor Taylor Area Coordinator, Midlands & North Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? I have worked for Sova for 10 years and no day has ever been the same. Sova is not just an organisation but a family that puts its trust in each other every day and I am very proud of how we support and make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people in society every day. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? My role mainly supports the staff to ensure they have the tools and the support they need to undertake their day to day tasks and sometimes just being there when they need someone to talk to. The staff often deal with very difficult and emotional situations and it is important to have someone to support them too. The frontline staff and management team have so many conflicting tasks; I am here to relieve some of that pressure. Team work and having the ability to understand and support each other is vital. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? Without Sova and its amazing staff there would be many people in our society who would have been left unnoticed, without a voice, homeless, returned to crime or remained unemployed. The number of people Sova have helped return to society and be a part of it; proves what we do works and makes a big difference. What is your proudest moment working for Sova? My proudest moment is receiving a Staff values award for ‘Focus’ at our recent Sova Staff Conference – it was nice to know that even when you work in the background the work that you do is acknowledged and appreciated.
Richard Mullins Project Manager, Sova Hull Independent Visitors & Sova MENTOR Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? That each day is different, you could be training volunteers one day and out the next day meeting young people and their carers. At anyone one time we have at least 80 young people supported by the project and attached to each young person is a social worker or youth justice worker, parents and carers, many other professionals as well as their volunteer. I never stop talking so the job is perfect for me. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? With the relationships on the Sova Hull Independent Visitors Project being long term it really does give the young person a consistent, reliable, adult role model. They build up trusting friendships and will often talk to their volunteers about issues that trouble them. It can be anything from not having contact with a family member or chatting about make-up and boyfriends. It is very special and unique relationship and I can honestly say that all the young people attached to the project gain confidence and self-esteem but most of all they all enjoy it. The MENTOR project gives a young person attached to the youth justice service the opportunity to look at their own life style and areas they need to build on or change. It could be as simple as looking at new activities in their local area from the build a bike project to joining youth clubs or football teams; or looking at education or employment whatever they need to steer them away from crime. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? I would say did you know that every child in care is entitled to have an independent visitor and those attached to the youth justice service a mentor. You could be that someone who can really make a difference in a young person’s life. What is your proudest moment working for Sova? Standing at the top of a drop slide and looking around the room at all my volunteers and young people at our annual party and thinking when did we get so big? And seeing how happy everyone was.
Sarah Fisher Service Lead Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? I started as a Volunteer with Sova and knew immediately that I wanted to be affiliated with them. They inspired me to change my Job and start a new journey of my own. I love that I get up every day knowing that in my own small way I make a difference. It feels good to know my contribution supports people and helps build stronger communities. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? As frontline staff I get to see the huge impact it has on SOVAs service users. We support people in making wiser decisions for themselves. We support people in practical areas such as housing and accessing appropriate benefits, but we also support people when they feel that no one else will. Nobody ever got by in life without someone else’s help and that is never truer than for the people our projects support. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? WOW interesting, how would I tell people what we do? I would simply say Sova is an organisation that values people, an organisation that sets a new example and higher standards. The staff and volunteers care deeply about what we do and it is evident in every action we take. We help those that need helping in any way that we can and we do it in a fair way. What is your proudest moment working for Sova? I’m proud every day, I feel proud to say I am part of Sova but if I had to pick one thing out of the plethora? It would be the day I watched a volunteer and service user stand together at our conference and talk about their journey. The highs and lows. They both became very emotional and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It’s humbling to hear stories of people overcoming life’s hurdles, it’s fantastic when they achieved it with the support of a volunteer from Sova. Our volunteers are integral to us and inspire me with their commitment and ideas every day.
Henrietta Davies-Dunn Case Officer, Sova ACE Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? For me Sova, as an employer stands above other third and public sector positions I’ve held because of the level of care, support and flexibility it offers its staff. I think Sova has been able to achieve this through the ethos it has created, the staff they have employed and the practices they have implemented. Sova seems to understand more than most that their staff are their greatest asset and by ensuring they are looked after, the support Sova is able to provide it’s participants is first class. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? Sova’s caring and flexible approach runs through the veins of the charity and this is evident in the support we provide to those who need it; in the many, many forms of interventions we deliver. I currently work supporting individuals back into work which has seen me provide English support, translation services, help to gain licences, interview techniques, volunteer placements, housing help, qualifications, access back into professional fields and support to become self-employed. Sova is very understanding of the need to be flexible, they know that no one solution can fix all problems. This ability to adapt ensures our work is very effective. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? At the end of each week I feel I have spent my time well. The satisfaction I feel from helping someone motivates me to work hard and within the ACE (achieving change through employment) project it is easy to stay highly motivated because the help we provide has a multitude of benefits; for instance the English support I deliver (which helps individuals to find jobs, apply for jobs, complete interviews and fulfil their job roles once employed) has the added benefits of increasing confidence, enabling participants to join community groups, engage in volunteering, helping their children with their homework, join the gym, use public transport, and gain additional qualifications…… our impact is massive! What is your proudest moment working for Sova? I am working with a Hungarian lady, she has been in the UK for 6 years and has struggled to achieve a standard of English that will allow her to re-enter her teaching profession. When I started working with ‘Paula’ she never left the house and had very little self-confidence. Six months later and Paula is studying English at her local college, working towards gaining her GCSE, she has had her teaching qualification approved by the teaching council to teach in the UK, she has started volunteering in a local charity shop and has joined a local history group to help her practice her language skills. Although ‘Paula’ still hasn’t gained the teaching job she desires, she now knows she is on the right track and her goal is attainable. Seeing the difference in ‘Paula’, regaining her drive and self-esteem is very rewarding.
Shamshi Ahmed Case Officer, Sova Connect East of England Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? I love working with the service users and volunteers, they all come from different walks of life and they have given me detailed insights of their journeys. The volunteers we have working on our projects are simply superb, their contribution and passion go a long way and they truly make positive differences to the vulnerable services users we support. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? A lot of the services users I support in custody and in the community have experienced traumatic childhood, chaotic lives and have low self – esteem, I like to get my hands stuck in and help them as much as I can so that they gain some confidence from the mentoring sessions before release and in the community. Also engaging the service users in the community through offering advice, information and guidance I feel that they benefit from the one to one sessions preparing them for jobs through CV writing, mock interviews, job searches, disclosures and confidence building, and helping them with other issues such as benefits, housing and simple things like managing money and budgeting. At the end of their time with me and the volunteers the service users feel supported and confident with Sova, which is reassuring and rewarding therefore motivates me and the volunteers more. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? I believe Sova’s front line staff and volunteers are important advocates for raising the profile of Sova. Seeing the service users gain confidence and appreciating the support they receive from offender mentor volunteers and staff is a wonderful feeling and service users are always grateful and thankful. I thoroughly enjoy supporting volunteers and service users and it is extremely rewarding knowing that I have helped them. What is your proudest moment working for Sova? Supporting volunteers to celebrate their contributions and achievements through Sova National Volunteer Celebration events, and Volunteer Week events in June each year. Both events recognises volunteer’s effort and hard work supporting services users and how they have impacted positively on the lives of many service users, it’s an amazing feeling! The one that stands out the most is celebrating Sova’s 40th Birthday with volunteers and services users at the House of Lords in July 2015! The volunteer on my project loved it and felt that she’s an important person in Sova, this was wonderful to witness as that was her proudest moment!
Gavin Williams Volunteer Coordinator, Sova METRO Expand What do you enjoy about working for Sova? Working for Sova is not actually like working, you hear the word working and you imagine getting up in the morning and struggling to find the motivation to get ready to graft for most of the day. But working for Sova is the total opposite, it really doesn’t feel like work, I love the fact that all my colleagues are from different walks of life, but are all so similar - we all have similar views and values which makes the work environment positive and productive. Sova really support and look after their staff, I really feel that staff members wellbeing is priority over everything. I feel it’s a privilege to work for Sova. How do you feel the work benefits those you work with? The benefits to people we work with are huge, we may not get through to everyone we work with, but the ones that engage and use our support really change their lives around. Our staff members and volunteers have a massive impact in the individuals we work with, we do not judge, and our approach to every situation is a measured one, we treat everyone as individuals and try our hardest to support our service users in reaching their aims and objectives. If you could tell people about the work you do or the impact Sova has, what would you say? The work Sova do is like no other organisation, yes there are similar organisations out there, but the feedback we have had and the results we have produced goes to show our commitment in building better lives and better communities. The impact that Sova has on individuals lives is a very positive one, and it doesn’t finish there, the knock on effect it has to their families and their community is amazing, “not all hero’s wear capes”! What is your proudest moment working for Sova? My proudest moment to date would have to be when I was nominated for an award at the staff conference for the value “passion”. I have tried and will continue to try to change people’s lives in any which way I can, and I have had quite a few proud moments working with Sova, but I have to say that getting nominated for the award “passion” really touched me. The fact my colleagues can see how much I love doing what I do, and can see my passion in my work, goes to show I must be doing something right.