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Be a prison volunteer in Devon, Dorset or South West England

See current opportunities to volunteer near Gloucestershire & Somerset, Wiltshire and across South West England:

Devon
Dorset
Gloucestershire & Somerset
Wiltshire

What you need to be an IMB volunteer

Be over 18 years of age.

Live within 30 miles of the prison or immigration detention facility or a reasonable distance for travel.

Commit to around 2 – 3 visits a month (sometimes more during the induction period) and regular attendance at monthly board meetings.

You do not need any special qualifications or experience. We provide all necessary training and support.

Tips for applying

Devon volunteer opportunities

HMP Channings Wood

Type: male, category C
Location: Newton Abbot, TQ12 6DW
Accessibility: visitor car park available

HMP Channings Wood is a category C training and resettlement prison for adult males, including those who have been convicted of sexual offences.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Channings Wood.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Dartmoor

Type: male, category C
Location: Yelverton, PL20 6RR
Accessibility: visitor car park available

HMP Dartmoor is a category C training prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Dartmoor.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Exeter

Type: male, category B
Location: Exeter, EX4 4EX
Accessibility: local car park and public transport options available

HMP Exeter is a category B local and resettlement prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Exeter.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

Dorset volunteer opportunities

HMP Guys Marsh

Type: male, category C
Location: Shaftesbury, SP7 0AH
Accessibility: visitor car park available

HMP is a category C training and resettlement prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Guys Marsh.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP/YOI Portland

Type: male, category C
Location: Isle of Portland, DT5 1DL
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available

HMP/YOI Portland is a category C training and resettlement prison for men over the age of 18.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Portland.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP The Verne

Type: male, category C
Location: Isle of Portland, DT5 1EQ
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available.

HMP The Verne is a category C training prison for adult males who have been convicted of sexual offences.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP The Verne.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

Gloucestershire & Somerset volunteer opportunities

HMP Ashfield

Type: male, category C
Location: Pucklechurch, BS16 9QJ
Accessibility: visitors car park and public transport options available

HMP Ashfield is a category C training prison for adult males who have been convicted of sexual offences. It is a privately operated prison, currently run by Serco.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Ashfield.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Bristol

Type: male, category B
Location: Bristol, BS7 8PS
Accessibility: local parking and public transport options available

HMP Bristol is a category B local and resettlement prison for men over the age of 18.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Bristol.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP/YOI Eastwood Park

Type: female, closed
Location: Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 8DB
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available

HMP/YOI Eastwood Park is a closed prison and young offender institution for women over the age of 18.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Eastwood Park.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Leyhill

Type: male, category D
Location: Gloucester, GL12 8BT
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available

HMP Leyhill is a category D open prison for male adults. HMP Leyhill holds a high percentage of men convicted of sexual offences.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Leyhill.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

Wiltshire volunteer opportunities

HMP Erlestoke

Type: male, category C
Location: Wiltshire, SN10 5TU
Accessibility: visitor car park available, public transport available but limited

HMP Erlestoke is a category C training and resettlement prison for adult males. Most prisoners at HMP Erlestoke are serving long sentences, including some who are serving indeterminate sentences.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Erlestoke.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

If there are no opportunities in a prison or immigration detention facility near you, register your interest. We will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.