Lunch and Learn - Dispelling fears and misconceptions around volunteers with criminal records

Join Esther Champion in this Lunch and Learn to give volunteer managers more confidence when it comes to hiring volunteers who have a criminal record.

What will be covered

• Understand appropriate terminology.

• Understand different types of convictions (spent vs unspent).

• Understand DBS checks and the law

• Understand why volunteering is beneficial for reducing reoffending

• Explore key stats linked to criminal justice

Esther (who is the founder of, and lead trainer at, Myrtos Consultancy) has over 14 years’ experience working in criminal justice and is passionate about those who have been through the justice system being given a fair chance to work, grow, and thrive, and be a valued member of society. Esther started her career as an Assistant Psychologist in a local men’s prison, before transitioning to work for the Probation Service within the same prison. She then changed career and began working for a Bristol based charity who supports people who have a conviction(s) in the community through long-term mentoring support. She now manages a project in that charity which partners with churches and organisations to provide welcoming spaces for people who have a criminal record. Having observed over many years the barriers that individuals who have a criminal conviction face in getting and sustaining work, she set up Myrtos Consultancy, as employment is one of the biggest factors that is known to reduce reoffending.

Myrtos Consultancy runs informative and interactive workshops (both in person and online that can be tailored to your needs), which educate businesses and organisations on Criminal justice, and empowers them to confidently risk assess, hire, and support someone who has a conviction in the workplace."

To connect with Esther - info@myrtosconsultancy.com