Sova Support Link (in Leeds and Sheffield)
At Sova Support Link we support a range of adults with complex needs and a history of offending behaviour in London, Leeds and Sheffield.
At Sova Support Link (SSL) we hope to improve people’s quality of life and enable them to live successfully as part of their local community. We do this by promoting desistance and social inclusion through recruiting, training and supervising local volunteer mentors, who work together in groups (known as ‘hubs’), to support a client, both practically and emotionally. By helping clients to steer clear of crime, our volunteers not only support an individual to change their own life for the better, but also help to build safer, stronger communities for everyone.
Each volunteer is asked to commit to meeting the client they’re matched with for no more than 5 hours per week for at least 12 months. Sova offer all our volunteers enjoyable and interactive training (which can be accredited through the Open College Network), ongoing support, training and supervision. One of our volunteers said “The most valuable aspect of my volunteer work has been the training”.
Each volunteer is asked to commit to meeting the client they’re matched with for no more than 5 hours per week for at least 12 months. Sova offer all our volunteers enjoyable and interactive training (which can be accredited through the Open College Network), ongoing support, training and supervision. One of our volunteers said “The most valuable aspect of my volunteer work has been the training”.
As well as working with a team of fellow mentors, volunteers also work closely with other professionals involved in the client’s life.
Sova Support Link covers Leeds, Sheffield and London. We are gratefully funded by NOMS, Oxleas NHS, Lloyds TSB Foundation Trust, and London Probation. One of our probation partners recently said “Sova are an inspiration as are those of you who work for them!”
This project holds Mentoring and Befriending Foundation Approved Provider Status and in 2013, we were highly commended in the Criminal Justice and Mental Health sector at the Positive Practice Awards.
Across Leeds and Sheffield we support adults with high-functioning autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and a history of offending behaviour, working closely with the National Probation Service and Leeds and York partnership NHS Foundation trusts for psychological and risk input. There are currently limited services for people who have offended and have ASD, to be a part of a ground breaking and innovative project looking to include those who often get overlooked, volunteer with us!
Volunteer to support people with Autism or Aspergers at Sova Support Link in Leeds or Sheffield, please contact us on: [email protected]
One of our volunteers said:
“Before I was introduced to Paul* I questioned, what would I see? But when I met this person they were just another human being, and quickly my anxieties went, and I was able to challenge those prejudices”.
* name changed
For general enquiries about our work, please contact us on: [email protected]
Follow us on twitter @sovasupportlink
Newsletters written by those who are supported by Sova:
Extra information on Sova Support Link:
This project holds Mentoring and Befriending Foundation Approved Provider Status.
Become a Sova volunteer
Job title: Volunteer Mentors - Leeds SSLTime commitment: 4-8 hours per week
