theForum » Volunteering » Volunteering opportunities » Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

Thorswrath — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 11:03:13 GMT

This is more of a rant than anything else.

Something i would like to do is volunteer for something that is of benefit to society, yet my previous attempts at registering as a volunteer have always been rejected due to having an unspent conviction. I am an RSO but it has been more than 5 years since i committed my offense which wasn't contact related and have undergone extensive rehabilitation and turned my life around so i engage in more positive and productive things.

I would love to use my skills to help others. i do construction and i know there are a few projects out there that need willing and able volunteers. I wouldn't even mind doing things like local litter picking but it seems even to do that you need to have a clean record ?

This seems to be counter productive in my opinion. i believe that people with convictions, spent or unspent could benefit greatly by volunteering by learning the meaning of kindness. Freely giving themselves to a cause greater than themselves, it appears to me would be a great tool to bolster an individuals rehabilitation and attitudes. Plus they are giving something back to the community willingly and not because they are forced to by the court.

i know there are many roles that can be undertaken which don't involve necessarily having to engage with vulnerable people directly, i think that is one of the fears, that people with convictions are some kind of loaded gun and also the whole reputation management thing comes into play. I believe that there should be some projects who should consider how best they can involve people with convictions. I think there are many people who through their rehabilitation have come to the conclusion they would like to give something back to society as a way of making amends and engaging in restorative justice. unfortunately much of society wants to bury their head in the sand and not explore the benefits of engaging with ex offenders in order to help reduce the rate of recidivism further.

Rant over

RE: Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

AB2014 — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 11:03:13 GMT

[quote]

[b]jcdmcr - 18 Sep 20 4:14 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Simon1983 - 17 Sep 20 10:44 AM[/b]

Expanding on this

Not only voluntary work but also regular employment, I hope one day someone can rationalise the difference between the following around spent and unspent convictions when it comes to employment.

Joe blogs goes for an interview, he has an unspent conviction that becomes spent next month, so disclosed to the interviewer what it was. Was offered the job, then withdrawn by HR due to the conviction.

joe blogs goes for an interview, he has a spent conviction that became spent last month, he did not disclose was offered the job and started with the company.

Whats the difference??? It’s the same person in the same job, just because he has an unspent conviction does not make him more of a risk, is society then saying that a person over night can become less of a risk overnight because there conviction is considered spent the next day compared to the previous day 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

where is the logic ????

[/quote]

I was offered a job in December, before my plea hearing. I was asked about convictions and I said I didn't have any. January I pled guilty, so there was a discrepancy between my application form and my dbs paperwork completed in Feb where I declared my convictions.. 4 days into the job they got round to reading the DBS and sacked me.... Thanks Experian.

[/quote]

Just spotted this on Unlock's website. Not so much exclusion over there, and the government went out of their way to stop potential employers finding out about criminal records. Wait a minute, Israel is regularly condemned around the world, while the UK is still, for another few months at least, seen as a shining beacon of virtue. If only employers over here had the same restrictions....

RE: Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

jcdmcr — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:14:56 GMT

[quote]

[b]Simon1983 - 17 Sep 20 10:44 AM[/b]

[/quote]

RE: Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

Simon1983 — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:44:31 GMT

RE: Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

AB2014 — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:22:26 GMT

[quote]

[b]Thorswrath - 15 Sep 20 2:35 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Ironically, many of these organisations take people who have been sentenced to do unpaid work, but I'm guessing that many of them won't keep those people on as volunteers once their debt to society has been paid.... I don't see the difference between before and after, but they obviously do. :(

RE: Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

JASB — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 10:59:38 GMT

[quote]

[b]Mr W - 15 Sep 20 3:26 PM[/b]

You’re volunteering here on this forum, I know it might not seem much but your experience and opinions are appreciated.

I have been thinking that this move to work online/from home there could be more potential of less questions being asked and just getting on with what needs to be done… perhaps there’s opportunities through the screen in front of you. Who knows. Hopefully, you can find reward in making a community better, even if it’s online or that means ones local to you miss out.

Ps. ExcludedUK are looking for people to help them https://www.excludeduk.org/campaign-groups - having not qualified for any financial help, I'm keeping a keen eye on what they can achieve

[/quote]

[quote]You’re volunteering here on this forum, I know it might not seem much but your experience and opinions are appreciated.[/quote]

Wonderfully put.

RE: Why are so many people with spent and unspent convictions excluded from volunteering?

Mr W — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:26:38 GMT

You’re volunteering here on this forum, I know it might not seem much but your experience and opinions are appreciated.