Sue is one of our longest serving volunteers. As part of Volunteers Week 2026 she reveals how her retirement has been enriched by spending time helping others.

 

After retiring from a 38-year career in the career service, I knew I wanted to continue helping people. My background was in Education, Training and Employment, so volunteering felt like a natural next step.

 

What I didn’t expect was where that volunteering journey would take me.

 

If I’m honest, there were certain areas I never imagined working in. I thought I wanted community-based volunteering and definitely not a prison-setting or work involving sex offenders. But six years later, I spend one day a week volunteering in HMP Standford Hill – and I absolutely love it.

 

What does volunteering in a prison setting look like?

 

Since 2023, I have been supporting an Interventions Alliance tutor to deliver a 10-week resettlement programme at the prison every Tuesday. The programme is open to any of the men who want to attend and is designed to help prepare them for life after release, especially in a post-Covid world that can feel completely unfamiliar after many years inside.

 

We cover practical topics such as healthy eating, budgeting, benefits, opening bank accounts, using ATMs, volunteering opportunities, bereavement, housing, and support organisations. We also talk about social media, modern technology, the gig economy, and ways to improve mental health and manage stress through mindfulness.

 

Many of the men attending have served very long sentences – often 20 or 30 years or more – and for some, the outside world has changed beyond recognition. Something as simple as paying for shopping can become overwhelming when hardly anyone uses cash anymore and everyone seems glued to their phones. Going back into the community can leave people feeling exposed, judged, and worried that others expect them to fail.

 

One of the most rewarding parts of volunteering has been helping people rebuild confidence and prepare for those challenges. Most sessions become open discussions, and the men engage incredibly well. Conversations often move beyond the programme itself and into wider topics – everything from climate change and vaping to religion, war, and, on one memorable occasion, the size of rhinoceroses during the Jurassic period!

 

How has volunteering impacted you?

 

Through this experience, I’ve learned a huge amount myself. Some of it is prison-specific, but much of it is about people, resilience, and the importance of feeling heard and supported. No two weeks are ever the same, and I come away from every session having learned something new.

 

Would you recommend volunteering to others?

 

Absolutely. If you have the time, the right skills, and an open mind, volunteering can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. The most important quality is being non-judgemental. People deserve the opportunity to move forward, and sometimes simply listening, encouraging, and sharing knowledge can make a real difference.

 

Volunteering has certainly changed my own perceptions. It’s taken me far outside my comfort zone and into a role I never imagined myself doing – and I’m so glad it did.

 

I would encourage anyone thinking about volunteering to give it a try. You may be surprised by where it takes you – and by how much you gain from it yourself.

 

• We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds – whether you want to learn new skills, give back through lived experience, or simply make a difference in your community, there is a place for you to get involved – email us volunteers@interventionsalliance.co.uk