Bristol Youth Offending Team
Bristol Youth Offending Team
What we do and apply to volunteer with us.
What we do
We work with young people who get into trouble with the law, helping them to stay away from crime. We:
- help young people at the police station, providing an Appropriate Adult if needed
- help young people and their families at court
- give information to the court
- supervise young people serving a community sentence, find out about community sentences on GOV.UK
- keep in touch with young people sentenced to custody, find out about custody on GOV.UK
- support young people awaiting sentence
- help offenders understand the effects of their crime
- work with parents or carers to help them understand their responsibilities
- offer victims of crime the chance to take part in restorative justice, find out about restorative justice on the Restorative Justice Council website
The team includes workers from different organisations including the council, police, health service and probation service.
Young people are put in touch with the Youth Offending Team by the police or the courts.
Apply to be a volunteer
If there aren’t any current opportunities to become a volunteer, we’ll keep your details and contact you before the next round of training.
Volunteer roles
Appropriate Adult
Young people under 18 must have an Appropriate Adult with them when police interview them about a crime. If a parent or carer can’t be there, we’ll get a skilled volunteer. The volunteer gives guidance and support, and makes sure the person’s rights are met.
Find about the role of Appropriate Adult on GOV.UK.
Appropriate Adult volunteers must be at least 22 years old and live in Bristol. You’ll get up to five days training and we’ll pay your travel expenses.
Community Panel Member
Community Panels aim to reduce re-offending by young people. They help the young person take responsibility for their actions and change their behaviour. It’s mainly for young people who have admitted guilt and been convicted of their first offence.
The panel meets with the young person and their parents or carers to talk about the young person’s behaviour. The victim of the crime is also encouraged to be there, so the young person understands the impact of their crime. Community Panel Member volunteers play an active role in these meetings and work with everyone there to agree a behaviour contract with the young person.
You must be at least 18 years old and live in Bristol. You’ll get up to six days training and we’ll pay your travel expenses.
We can’t accept applications from Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) or Magistrates who sit in Bristol, as there’s potential conflict of interest.