We wanted to update you on how Trailblazers is continuing to work to ensure the safety of volunteers and the young men who are accessing our services.

Trailblazers is currently only offering community mentoring, as it is not possible for mentors to access prisons due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Following the easing of many of the lockdown restrictions in June and July, mentors were able to request to restart meeting their community mentees in person (whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines).  It was each mentors’ decision if they wished to resume meeting their mentee in person or to continue to offer remote mentoring support.  This continues to be the guidance and if mentors do wish to meet their mentee face to face, the first step is to speak to their Project Manager.  Project Managers will carry out a Community Risk Assessment with the mentor to evaluate the level of risk involved.  If the level of risk is assessed as being low, the necessary safety precautions that need to be adhered to allow the meeting to go ahead will be advised.

There has been an increase recently in the number of local lockdowns around the country, including one currently impacting our West Midlands service which has seen Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell have greater restrictions imposed.  We wanted to reassure our mentors that we will continue to adhere to the Government Guidelines about whether it is safe to continue to mentor in person.  In this instance, voluntary and charitable roles are still permitted during the local lockdown.

If a local lockdown (or national lockdown) does affect an area where Trailblazers mentor, the Project Manager will circulate by email the Government Guidance for that particular area.  If it is advised that voluntary and charitable roles should cease, mentors will be asked to revert back to remote mentoring for the lockdown period and until the Project Manager advises government guidance has stated it is safe to resume this type of community activity.

Trailblazers will provide face coverings and hand sanitizers for mentors carrying out community mentoring sessions and these can be requested from Project Managers.

We continue to review and expand the care packs we are issuing to mentees on their release from prison to help protect them from the virus.  The packs include face coverings, antibacterial products and government guidance about how to keep safe during Covid-19.