Nationally, half of all prisoners have serious problems with reading, two thirds of all prisoners have problems with numeracy and four fifths experience problems with writing. This represents a significant barrier to gaining employment and has been cited as a primary reason for re-offending.

SOVA, in partnership with the Thames Valley Probation Service, support the learning journey of probationers in need of basic skills development; the primary aim of the project is to increase the basic skills levels of people serving probation orders, whilst also increasing the likelihood of offender rehabilitation and reducing the likelihood of re-offending. The Project works to ensure that probation learners have access to valuable learning tools, in order to enable them to gain the skills and qualifications they need to enter employment.

The Thames Valley Probation Service, specifically the Bridge to Employment (B2E) Sector, continues to supervise the basic skills requirements of offenders working with the Project; and SOVA recruit, train and supervise volunteers who work through a process of basic skills mentoring with allocated probationers. We believe that this process will enhance the likelihood of offender resettlement back in to the local community, and therefore, volunteers from the local community are vital to the overall aims of the Project.

As a representative of the Thames Valley Mentoring Project we expect all our volunteers to nurture, support, encourage and help an offender who has basic skills needs.

Volunteering in this project is an excellent opportunity for people who:

• Would like to pass on their enthusiasm for English and/or Mathematics
• Would like to make a vital contribution to crime reduction and community safety in their local area
• Would like to gain experience working in adult literacy, numeracy or ESOL
• Would like to do something constructive in their local communities
• Have a strong interest in reducing crime and increasing offender rehabilitation