Volunteering helped to set Claire on probation career path

Claire Golden says volunteering was vital for getting her on the path to a career in the probation service.

Now working as a community supervision service officer with Durham Tees Valley Probation Trust, Claire, 29, first got involved in volunteering while studying at Teesside University.

Claire, 29, of Middlesbrough, graduated from Teesside University in 2004 with a BSc (Hons) Criminolgy and Law.

She said: 'I was working as a relief support officer in the bail hostel for the probation service when I started my degree. But I was really interested in following the probation path so went to the University’s careers service, who told me about the volunteering opportunities available.

'The careers service set me up with a voluntary job in the witness protection suite at Teesside Magistrates Court. I did that for nearly two years. I was also involved with other voluntary agencies doing similar work.'

Claire said: 'I really think that volunteering helped me to gain invaluable hands-on experience. It also helped me to put into practice what I was learning in my degree and also provided a chance to really find out first-hand what that type of work involved.

'My current role involves supervising people who are subject to community orders and on licence in the community to help them address their offending behaviour by encouraging clients to work with agencies in the community to get them actively involved in pro social lifestyle and work towards plans, goals and aims to help reduce further offending.

'I’m also involved in co-ordinating a team of 16 volunteers, who help with chaperoning and helping to advise clients, shadowing us and helping with paperwork. As I’ve been involved in voluntary work myself I know what it’s like for them and think back to the positive experiences I had as a volunteer.'

She added: 'I feel the experience I gained from the two years of voluntary work really went a long way to helping me in my career. Volunteering helps to prepare you for a role and helps you to develop and put into practice your knowledge.'

Jayne Villiers, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Teesside University, said: 'It’s great to see how volunteering your time while at university can have great rewards in the future. By volunteering, Claire has been able to get her career well and truly off the ground.'

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