Roles – Friends of Peterborough Prison

Looking down the length of the education corridor. The library, staff room and classrooms lead off this corridor.

Here is a view of one of the Education Department corridors. The library, staff room and various classrooms lead off this corridor. Depending on which role you fancy, you could be heading here for your volunteer shift!

If you are interested in applying for any of the following roles, please go to our Application Form page. If you have any queries, then please get in touch as detailed on our Contact Us page.

If you’ve got a few hours a week to serve refreshments and snacks to visitors to the prison this may be for you. FOPP runs a small snack bar, and a friendly face and cup of tea can make a real difference to someone’s visit to see a family member. Visitors often just need a bit of information about how things work along with something to keep them going after what may have been a long journey.

Hours are Monday -Thursday 12:30pm until 3:30pm (or 12:00pm until 3:00pm) and Weekends 12:15pm until 3:15pm. A closeup view of the Tea Bar.

Some volunteers choose to take on this role while waiting for their security clearance to come through. Volunteers are also welcome to do an occasional shift here, in addition to a regular role within the prison.

The facility is highly valued by visitors who may be feeling apprehensive about their forthcoming visit, especially if this is their first time here. We may be their first port of call, and this is an opportunity for us to relieve some of their anxiety and set them up for a good visit. Visits are essential for keeping close family ties with people in prison, and if these ties can be maintained, there is a significantly reduced risk of them re-offending after release.

Many opportunities exist to volunteer within the secure parts of the prison. Have a look at the Experiences page for first hand accounts from current volunteers. You will need to be 18 or over and have full Ministry of Justice security clearance before you can help inside the prison. (You can find more information about the security clearance procedure on our Signing Up page). We will guide you through the clearance application process. With such clearance, the following opportunities may be available:

A prison activities volunteer supports male and female prisoners in taking part in positive, structured sessions such as arts, crafts, games, and creative workshops. Volunteers help set up materials, guide activities, encourage participation, and create a calm, respectful, and inclusive environment. This role promotes wellbeing, confidence, and pro-social skills by giving prisoners a constructive outlet for creativity. No specialist experience is required just patience, reliability, and a supportive approach toward rehabilitation.

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

A prison chaplaincy volunteer supports the chaplaincy team in providing emotional, spiritual, and pastoral care to prisoners of all faiths and none. Volunteers help with faith-based activities, group sessions, services, and one-to-one support, while fostering a respectful, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment. The role promotes wellbeing, reflection, and positive personal development. No formal religious training is required just empathy, good listening skills, and a commitment to inclusivity and integrity

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

A Functional Skills volunteer supports learners in developing practical Maths and English skills needed for everyday life, work, and further education. Volunteers assist with reading, writing, numeracy, problem-solving, and building learner confidence through clear explanations and guided practice. Patience, encouragement, and the ability to break down tasks into simple steps are key—no formal teaching experience required, just a willingness to help learners progress at their own pace.

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

An ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) volunteer supports adult learners in improving their English language skills through conversation practice, reading, writing, and basic grammar assistance. Volunteers help create a welcoming and inclusive environment, encourage learner confidence, and adapt activities to meet diverse language levels. No teaching experience is required—just patience, clear communication, and a desire to help others succeed.

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

Family days help to maintain contact between people in prison and their children. There are approximately eight family days each year; four for male prisoners and four for female.

Description:

FOPP (Friends Of Peterborough Prison) is a company managed by a Board of Directors. You can learn a little more about us and how our Directors look after our various activities on our Who We Are page. We are keen to increase the number of directors and will be happy to discuss the position in more detail if you think you might be interested in helping in this way.

Organisation Description:

FOPP exists to recruit and train volunteers to help in various departments within the prison. Being a limited company, FOPP is managed by a Board of Directors, one of whom is designated as Chair of the Board. Currently, this is on a bi-monthly rolling basis.

When Required:

The board meets regularly, bi-monthly (starting in January each year), usually on a Tuesday afternoon. Meetings were traditionally held in person at the home of one of our directors, but since COVID-19 appeared we now hold virtual meetings over Teams. Meetings last approximately two hours.

Commitment:

One afternoon every 2 months. Directors are also expected to attend our 2 Volunteer evening meetings every year (April and October), held in the Learning & Development Centre at the prison. These take place on various days, and usually run from 5pm to 7pm.

This is an unpaid position, but necessary expenses incurred in connection with the role can be reclaimed.

You will need to be computer-literate and have access to a suitable computer, including one set up for Teams video-conferencing. The bulk of our work is carried out via group emails, with reports and spreadsheets created in Microsoft Word and Excel (or equivalent) formats.

Areas of Interest:

Accountancy/Finance
Health & Safety
Legal
Website Design
Management
Information Technology
Secretarial
Data Protection

Types of Activity:

Working as part of our management team to guide and support the activities of FOPP.
Taking responsibility for one or more specific aspects of our duties.
Reporting to the Board of Directors at our bi-monthly management meetings.

Skills and Qualifications:

No formal qualifications are required, but ideally you will be, or have been, a regular volunteer with FOPP. Other applicants will be considered, but you will be expected to show that you have experience either in a custodial environment, or with vulnerable people. It will be particularly helpful if you have skills in one or more of the Areas of Interest listed above.

You will be required to comply with our guiding principles, which state:

The Friends of Peterborough Prison are committed to achieving a caring and non-judgemental attitude towards others. We promote an open and positive attitude to working with people of a different race, nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or physical ability.

To Apply:

To register your interest and to find out more, please get in touch in the first instance by any of the methods detailed on our Contact Us page.

A prison gym volunteer supports the safe and positive use of the fitness facilities by encouraging constructive physical activity and healthy routines among prisoners. Volunteers help supervise sessions, demonstrate basic exercises, promote wellbeing, and encourage teamwork, discipline, and respect. Working alongside gym staff, volunteers contribute to a supportive environment that helps prisoners build confidence, improve fitness, and develop pro-social skills. No specialist qualifications are required just reliability, good communication, and a commitment to positive rehabilitation.

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

A Mother and children Activities Volunteer supports weekend sessions designed for mothers and their babies within the prison’s dedicated unit. Volunteers help set up and run gentle, age-appropriate activities that encourage bonding, play, and emotional well-being. The role involves creating a calm, supportive environment, offering reassurance to mothers, and assisting staff in delivering safe and nurturing sessions. No specialist qualifications are required just patience, empathy, and a warm, family-centred approach.

Session times are flexible but restricted to Saturdays and Sundays.

An Official Prison Visitor provides independent, friendly support to prisoners who may have little or no contact with family or friends. Volunteers visit regularly to offer conversation, emotional support, and a consistent positive presence, helping to reduce isolation and encourage wellbeing. The role is neutral and non-judgmental, focusing on listening, compassion, and building trust. No specialist background is needed.

Visit times are different for male and female prisoners. Details of visiting times are given on the HMP Peterborough website. (downloads a pdf document).

If you have a skill which you think could be helpful for prisoners, their families and friends and it’s not listed here, we would love to hear from you. Please go to our Contact Us page for details of how to get in touch.

A prison Pilates volunteer leads safe, structured Pilates sessions that support prisoners in improving core strength, posture, flexibility, and overall wellbeing. Volunteers guide participants through accessible exercises, offer encouragement, and help create a calm, respectful, and inclusive environment. The role promotes confidence, healthy routines, and positive use of time. No formal teaching qualification is required just a good understanding of Pilates principles, patience, and a supportive, non-judgmental approach.

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

A prison yoga volunteer delivers calm, accessible yoga sessions that promote physical health, relaxation, and emotional wellbeing among prisoners. Volunteers guide individuals through simple poses, stretching, breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques, creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment. The role helps build confidence, reduce stress, and encourage positive routines. Teaching qualification is preferred but would welcome anyone with a solid understanding of basic yoga practices, reliability, and a compassionate, non-judgmental approach.

Session times are Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon, plus Friday morning. Depending on the course, there are morning sessions from 8:00 – 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 1:00 to 4:45.

A note about safeguarding

We take Safeguarding very seriously. You can see more details by following the link to our Safeguarding Policy.