XN000022-1979-07-02 — Page 6

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MONDAY, JULY 2, 1979

SWD'S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) INVITES CIVIC- MINDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO JOIN ITS MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.

UNDER THE SCHEME, STARTED IN 1976 AS A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT, VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION OFFICERS IN PROVIDING AFTER-CARE REHABILITATION SERVICES TO YOUNG OFFENDERS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID WHILE PROBATION OFFICERS ASSUMED THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF GUIDING PROBATIONERS IN BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT, VOLUNTEERS HELPED SOLVE THEIR SOCIAL PROBELMS THROUGH CARE AND UNDERSTANDING.

HE SAID THERE WAS A WIDE SCOPE FOR SUCH VOLUNTARY EFFORTS DEPENDING ON INDIVIDUAL PROBATION CASES.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, VOLUNTEERS MAY HELP PROBATIONERS DEVELOP MEANINGFUL HOBBIES BY JOINING THEM IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AS PICNICKING, SWIMMING OR PHOTOGRAPHY.

+THEY MAY ALSO ASSIST THE PROBATIONERS IN SOLVING ANY ACADEMIC PROBLEMS THEY MAY HAVE BY GIVING FREE TUITION, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE THEMSELVES HOUSEWIVES COULD TEACH IN MANAGING HOUSEHOLD CHORES, WHILE THOSE WHO WERE PROFESSIONALS MIGHT PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF THEIR SPECIALTY.

ANYONE AGED 21 YEARS AND ABOVE, WITH SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALIFICATION AND A FLAIR FOR HELPING OTHERS, PARTICULARLY YOUNG OFFENDERS, IS WELCOME TO JOIN THE SCHEME.

APPLICATIONS OR ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE, EITHER BY WRITING OR IN PERSON, AT THE SCHEME OFFICE AT 64 WELLINGTON STREET, CENTRAL (TEL. 5-240649) OR AT ANY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION OFFICE LOCATED IN EACH MAGISTRACY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID EACH VOLUNTEER WOULD BE TRAINED IN THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PROBATION SERVICE BEFORE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A SUITABLE CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS AREA OF INTEREST AND ABILITY.

EACH ASSIGNMENT, HE SAID, NORMALLY LASTS FOR SIX MONTHS, DURING WHICH PROBATION OFFICERS KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE VOLUNTEER ON THE PROGRESS OF WORK.

+IN THE PAST YEARS OF THE SCHEME'S OPERATION, VOLUNTEERS HAVE DISPLAYED IMPRESSIVE CAPABILITY AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNMENTS,+ HE SAID.

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