Community Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) are for adults (21+) who have been convicted of a sexual offence. Core members can self-refer however, most referrals come from probation, police and prisons. Following assessment and volunteer matching each Circle meets over a period of 12 months with the intention to support the core members’ safe transition into the community. With an understanding of the core member’s risk, needs and legal restrictions, the Circle uses a strengths-based approach to hold the core member accountable for their thoughts and behaviour, build self-confidence and promote desistance to ensure no further victims.
Each Circle comprises one core member and 4-5 trained volunteers working with a professional Coordinator who, in turn, works closely with the core member’s police and probation managers.
Volunteers meet together with their core member weekly at a safe, risk-assessed community venue. Meetings take place on the same day in the same location for a period of approx. 12 months. and are usually held in the late afternoon/early evenings.
Volunteers produce minutes of each meeting and these must be shared electronically to their Circle Coordinator within 48 hours of each meeting. To volunteer you will need to have a reasonable level of IT skills and volunteering will include travel/admin time as well as the face to face meeting time.
Volunteers have full, and on-going, training and support.
Volunteer Role & Responsibilities
