In recent years, probation has undergone many changes - and it's role and structure is still changing. In 2001, local Probation Services, which had a good deal of autonomy, became Areas within the National Probation Service. Since then, the creation of the National Offender Management Service, NOMS, has seen probation and prison brought under one umbrella with a single chief executive. Probation's role is evolving from advising, assisting and befriending offenders to protecting the public, reducing re-offending, punishing offenders within the community, ensuring awareness of the effects of crime on victims, and rehabilitating offenders.

What?

Although Probation is now part of a national service, there are differences between the 42 Areas and volunteer opportunities need to be explored locally. These are some possibilities:

Mentoring and support: Offenders may be serving community sentences, or be supervised following their release from custody. For many released from prison there are worries about accommodation, benefits, employment or training, and about coping with life outside. A mentor may help the individual to access services and gain confidence and self esteem - and may make the difference between a fresh start, and a return to offending, arrest and custody. Mentors can also help those on community orders to comply with the requirements, perhaps, assisting with transport, easing anxieties, addressing barriers and providing practical assistance.

Education/Training: Many of those being supervised have educational needs. Improving literacy and numeracy, so that employment opportunities are enhanced, contributes significantly to reducing re-offending. Volunteers with a background in education, or who have the skills to provide support to offenders on courses, are particularly welcomed. Where an individual being supervised has drug or alcohol problems, Probation may work in partnership with specialist voluntary sector agencies. These agencies often have opportunities for volunteers.

Probation Boards: Responsibility for the policies and performance of each of the 42 Probation Areas is vested by Parliament in a Probation Board . The Home Secretary expects Boards to operate in accordance with overall Criminal Justice policy; Boards are accountable to the Home secretary via the Probation Directorate. Membership of a Board should reflect the local community. Selection is by an open process of recruitment; appointment decisions will be based on the individual skills and experience that people bring.

Who?

There are no particular qualifications required to be a probation volunteer. However, you will need to be open-minded and non-judgmental. Probation volunteers will require a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.

Probation Board members must have a full understanding of local and national issues and political awareness. They need to retain an ambassadorial outlook, supporting the position of the service and their Probation Area and be aware of the views of local people and communities.

How?

The National Probation Directorate (website www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk) has contact addresses and links to local probation areas; some of these sites contain details of opportunities for volunteers. Alternatively, look under "Probation" in a local telephone directory. The Probation Boards Association has its own website (www.probationboards.co.uk).