Beyond the Gates: What Volunteering in Prison Taught Us
Over July, volunteers from Dr. Martens have been stepping inside HMP Thameside to help Key4Life break the cycle of reoffending that young men in prison can often get trapped in.
Every activity was designed to help young men in prison build up practical skills to take with them outside – whether that meant shaping new business ideas, practising interviews, and understanding of how different industries work in the real world.
Our volunteers went in hoping to pass on something valuable, but they also came out with some takeaways of their own.
This is what they learnt.
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LESSON 1: A SIMPLE PLAN CAN BE POWERFUL
Sometimes the first step forward isn’t a giant leap, but a simple goal you can work towards.
In a Dragons’ Den style session, participants worked with volunteers to flesh out ideas they’d developed into business ventures they could pursue on the outside - from app ideas to catering companies and even movie plots. This opportunity for their ideas to be taken seriously can be what they need to look ahead.
“They all had so many interesting ideas and you could see that, for some of them, this was the first time they realised they could actually be turned into something real. These plans weren’t about coming up with the next million dollar idea. They were just about starting fresh, doing something for themselves, and staying out for good.”
LESSON 2: CONFIDENCE CAN START WITH A CONVERSATION
A ten-minute chat might not seem like much, but it can build something that lasts much longer.
The impact of these sessions went beyond interview tips or career advice. Having someone to talk, listen, and show genuine interest in what they have to say can go a long way in building a sense of confidence that can be hard to come by in the reoffending cycle.
“It was great chatting with the young men, and seeing how much your feedback was valued by them but also how much it taught me in the process. It was incredible to see their confidence grow the more you spoke to them, their enthusiasm and energy lifting as time went on.”
LESSON 3: YOUR TIME IS WORTH MORE THAN YOU THINK
You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. Showing up can be enough.
Volunteering can be scary when you feel like you might not know what to say or if you have the right experience to offer advice. But what mattered most wasn’t technical expertise the volunteers bought.
“I was worried I wouldn’t be helpful, or be able to tell them something they didn’t already know. But actually, it felt like what was most valuable was them knowing someone was taking out time to listen to their ideas and hear what they have to say.”
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Key4Life’s unique blend of programmes give young men already in prison, or at risk of going inside, the tools to step into something better. By showing up, listening, and sharing what they could this month, our volunteers became a part of that shift.
At the Dr. Martens Foundation, we know our impact is made stronger through the people who power it - our partners, the people who work at Dr. Martens and the people who wear Docs.
Thank you to Key4Life and our Dr. Martens volunteers for reminding us what’s possible when we learn from one another.
📷Pictured above: Volunteers from Dr. Martens and other companies taking part in one of Key4Life’s July workshops at HMP Thameside.
