Award-winner volunteer wants to 'make difference'

Kashmir Kaur has been part of North Yorkshire Council's Youth Justice Volunteer Service for 14 years

A woman who has been given an award for her work with vulnerable young people involved in the justice system has said she simply acts as "a familiar face in a crisis".

Kashmir Kaur, from Harrogate, has spent 14 years working as an "appropriate adult" with North Yorkshire Council's Youth Justice Volunteer Service - helping to safeguard youngsters during justice procedures such as police interviews.

Ms Kaur, who recently won the individual volunteers' category at North Yorkshire's Community Awards, said the job was "a pleasure to do".

She said she saw the role as her way of giving back to community: "It's a pleasure to do. I feel humbled to be able to do it for somebody and to be there for them."

Ms Kaur said volunteers like her support youth justice staff in their work with young people in a variety of ways.

She explained she had so far been an appropriate adult on 110 occasions and served as a referral orders panel member, helping to facilitate restorative justice, over 200 times.

'Open and honest'

Ms Kaur said she often volunteered on evenings or weekends, alongside her job in health and adult services at the council.

She could often be called up "with an hour's notice" to attend a police station, giving her "a very short time to get to know a person in a very vulnerable position".

"All that in itself is quite intimidating for the young person," she said.

"It's about just being that familiar face and trying to work out when you're talking to them what's actually going on in the background."

Ms Kaur said that sometimes she could see the same individual "two or three times within a week", and it was key to build trust while also remaining "a neutral person".

"It's just being down to earth, and just being open and honest," she said.

"The more volunteers we can get who are just down to earth - people from the community, rather than having a job title or having a status - that's when the young person connects."

Ms Kaur was recently the winner in the individual volunteers' category at North Yorkshire's Community Awards

Ms Kaur explained that as a referral board member, she represented the community when a young person was given a referral order.

A referral order works as a contract to repair some of the harm caused, and to address some of the challenges the person may have faced or could still be facing.

"What's really important at that point is explaining the legal side to the young person that, you know, this is what you're signing up to do, but also making sure it's achievable," Ms Kaur said.

She explained that reparations could be anything from working at a community garden to litter-picking or repairing bikes.

She said one of the most "rewarding" moments of a panel was when a victim attended to share their experience which could help both parties involved.

"The young person is able to sit with the victim and they can learn what harm was caused and how that made that person feel," she said.

"Everybody has a story, so there'll sometimes be a reason why the young person has acted the way they have and the victim's not aware."

Ms Kaur described the process as "really restorative".

'Making a difference'

Ms Kaur said that over the years she had worked in the role, she had bumped into people who were now adults but who she had previously supported and who wanted to share how their lives had changed.

"They'll want to tell you how they've progressed and it is very rewarding for that young person to come up to you," she said.

"They've remembered that interaction with you - what you said and what you did - and it's really nice and heartwarming that they've moved on with their lives."

Ms Kaur spoke of her surprise at being recognised at the North Yorkshire Community Awards, saying she "didn't expect to win at all".

Each winner received £1,000 for the project, group or nominated relevant local charity they represented.

Ms Kaur said she was pleased the money would go towards the Youth Justice Service to invest in more equipment.

However, she said that, for her, volunteering was not for the accolades but to "make a difference".

She added that it aligned with her faith as a Sikh and the concept of "seva" - the idea of giving something back without seeking personal gain.

"You wouldn't do it for appreciation, that's not why you're doing it," she said.

"It's about making sure you're there for that young person and you've got their needs at the forefront."

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