Georgia's Volunteering Success

 

We sat down with Psychology graduate Georgia Burbridge, to find out all about her experience of volunteering with Spurgeons, an organisation which supports prisoners and their families. 

 

Firstly Georgia, which courses did you study at Winchester?

I studied BSc (Hons) Psychology and then MSc Forensic Psychology.

How did you find out about the volunteering role you did with Spurgeons? 

While I was studying Psychology, I went along to the Volunteering Fair organised by the university on campus with one of my friends. We were interested in getting some experience as volunteering can look good on your CV. I spoke to Spurgeons at the Fair and thought this seems really interesting, and that volunteering in a prison, would give me some good experience.  

Who are Spurgeons and what is the voluntary work you did at the prison in Winchester? 

Spurgeons are a children’s charity who support families affected by imprisonment. As a volunteer, I worked in the visitors centre where you are the first friendly face that they see when they arrive at the prison. You go through the security process alongside the visitors and then through to the visits hall where they reunite with their families. This is always lovely to watch as you don’t know how long it has been since they’ve seen each other. They'll have an hour and a half visit, where the prisoner has to stay sat down but the kids can get up and come into the play area. A volunteer then stays in the play area where kids can play but also can take toys back to the table if they want to play as a family. The aim is to make it an environment that children feel comfortable in. There is also the opportunity to work in the tea bar and serve food and drinks to families during their visit. 

How often did you volunteer there? 

While I was at university, I used to do one afternoon shift a fortnight. I really enjoyed it and then realised I could continue while also gaining academic credits through the volunteering module. This meant that I needed to complete a certain number of hours and I had to write about what I was doing and how the experience supported my learning on my course and also built my confidence.  

What personal skills do you think you developed during your time with Spurgeons? 

I would say the main thing is learning to be empathetic towards people. I feel like there's quite a stigma towards prison and maybe families of prisoners. I think after volunteering or working in a prison you realise that prisoners, and especially their families, are just people in such a difficult situation in their lives. Spurgeons have a phrase which states that families serve a hidden sentence, as they experience a type of sentence themselves by having a loved one sent to prison and the hardship that they experience because of this, for example the loss of an income. It is known as disenfranchised grief. They have lost a family member and they are likely to receive stigma rather than support.  

The other skill I've developed is confidence as you are putting yourself out there. You have to be the happy, chatty, welcoming face; I feel when I started, I was less confident and quite quiet. 

 

 

What happened as a result of your volunteering? 

I started as a volunteer for Spurgeons and then secured a paid, visitor support worker position on the weekends, alongside studying for my Masters degree in Forensic Psychology at Winchester. The role was overseeing volunteers during visits at weekends. I did this role for a year before I applied to be a prison officer.  

It’s a really long application process to be a prison officer - an online assessment with an interview, looking at case studies and role play and a few months later I had a fitness test. Once I started in the October, I went on an intensive seven-week course in Coventry with training in mental health, control and restraint, radios and communication techniques. I learnt so many things and it was really good. I feel thanks to that course I made such good bonds with people who are all still working in prison-related roles. 

And did you realise that you wanted to work with prisoners, but perhaps not as a prison officer? 

While I was a prison officer, the main thing I was struggling with was the shift work. A lot of night shifts, finishing quite late and then coming back in early the next day, along with my commute. So then when I saw that Spurgeons advertised a full-time position as a family intervention coordinator, I thought it was a no-brainer because I had enjoyed the part-time work with families so much. 

However, I wouldn't be where I am now without having done a year as a prison officer because I think that's given me so much experience and so much more confidence. It's also helped me build excellent working relationships with many officers, managers, and different staff in the prison such as the nurses, substance misuse team and education team. This now really helps me in my new role working with families and children affected by imprisonment as it’s so easy to speak to people in different roles and I’m really enjoying it.  

What advice would you give a student thinking of doing some volunteering while they are at Winchester? 

I would say definitely give volunteering a go if you can, it will set you apart from others going for the same role. It will show you are committed, reliable and can work with different types of people. I’m so glad I started volunteering with Spurgeons four years ago - I wouldn’t be where I am now without it and I’m so grateful for that opportunity.  

 

With many thanks to Georgia for taking the time to share her experiences with us.

 

If you are interested in volunteering during your time at Winchester, please get in contact workplacements@winchester.ac.uk  Winchester students have volunteered with a wide range of organisations, including Marwell Zoo, Cancer Research, Winnall Rock School, Hampshire History Trust, Winchester Basics Bank, Citizens Advice, St Francis Animal Welfare, the National Trust and Trinity Winchester.

 

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