Our CLI volunteer peer mentors work directly with our service users, providing practical one-to-one, weekly support, and constructive activities to help them build positive change in their lives, reconnect with their communities, and achieve their goals.

We work with a range of people from a range of backgrounds and experiences. Some may just need a gentle nudge in the right direction, whilst others may need a higher level of support. We match volunteers to their mentee based on experience and needs so volunteers will never feel out of their depth or unable to support their mentee’s needs.

We also welcome people who may have the skills and experience to lead and participate in our Groups programme and Recovery Community Forums.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and we accept all volunteers that have something to offer those we support.

We welcome people from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, and actively encourage people with lived experience of offending, addiction, homelessness, or mental health issues to apply.

In addition to a positive attitude and non-judgemental approach, our volunteer mentors are outgoing, resilient and able to invest time, commitment and energy to help those we support to create lasting change in their lives.

All volunteers attend our highly regarded Volunteer Training Course – two days of interactive and informative training. This is followed by a 121 discussion about working together and the opportunity to shadow an existing mentor before being matched to a potential mentee. Regular support from our CLI Volunteer Coordinators help ensure the mentoring and relationship is both effective and successful.

Our volunteers are also supported to develop their skills too, often gaining the experience and new skills to help with their future plans. Many of our volunteers have gone on to join CLI as an employee or join other organisations in the criminal justice and recovery sectors.

Volunteer mentors need to be able to offer 4-6 hours a week for a minimum period of 6 months during the hours between 9.00am to 5.00pm to help their mentee set and achieve personal goals and positive change.

We work across Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough, Shropshire and Milton Keynes. As volunteers need to able to meet their mentee in person, we take your location into account when considering potential matches.