Volunteers and mentors who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty to support ex-offenders were praised for their efforts during our fifth annual Volunteer Mentor Awards.
Hosted by our Mentor Co-ordinator Laura Priestley and attended by Marc Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, the ceremony celebrated the achievements of the charity’s volunteers and mentors during 2017.
Laura said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the dedication, patience and determination of everyone who has given their spare time to mentor ex-offenders and those at risk of offending.
“Supporting people as they get their lives back on track after a prison sentence can be demanding and challenging, but each positive step forwards is rewarding for both mentors and mentees.
“It’s been humbling to read through the nominations for this year’s volunteer and mentor awards, especially those that included direct quotes from clients’ family members and our professional partners.”
In the Individual Contribution to Mentoring and Volunteering category, Justin McRoberts and Emma Richardson were applauded as the winners.
Justin was nominated for his commitment and enthusiasm while helping a mentee with mental health problems tackle a number of personal barriers.
Client families and other professionals working with Justin’s mentees commented on his determination to make a difference, often attending client appointments to offer support when the mentee feels unsettled.
Meanwhile Emma’s nomination highlighted her exemplary interpersonal skills and effective support of visitors to LAT’s FIRST Centre at HMP Lincoln.
Sue Jarrett was crowned winner of the Chief Executive Award thanks to her compassion and patience working with ex-offenders with more challenging needs.
She was singled out for her work with her newest mentee, who has severe mental health issues and has historically been very difficult to engage with. Thanks to Sue’s support and guidance, after only two appointments her mentee has started to show significant improvement.
Thanks to her encouragement, the mentee has increased his confidence in using IT, applying for jobs and checking his emails.
In the final category, Emma Wells was named winner of the LAT Ambassador Award.
Having joined us as a mentor in 2015, Emma has been involved in promoting and attending a variety of events as well as developing feedback forms to help improve and shape the services on offer.
She was congratulated for delivering exceptional mentoring work and taking every opportunity to promote the aims and achievements of LAT to the wider community.
The runners up in the three categories were Lee Robinson and Jase Owen (Individual Contribution to Mentoring and Volunteering), Isobel Pastor (Chief Executive Award), and Louisa Graham (Ambassador Award).
Marc Jones presented the award trophies and certificates during the event.
He said: “Reducing crime and re-offending rates in Lincolnshire is one of the top priorities for making our communities safer for everyone.
“Having a mentor service available to those who need guidance and support as they re-enter society is crucial if we want them to succeed. I’m so thankful for the work that Lincolnshire Action Trust and its mentors do to help their mentees achieve this.”
