PEOPLE wanting to volunteer in the criminal justice sector will soon be able to find roles through a new online database.

The database has been launched by the Diocese of Worcester after it was discovered that people willing to volunteer in criminal justice related areas were struggling to find the opportunities available.

The database, Volunteering for Justice, gives details of a range of different voluntary opportunities across Worcestershire and Dudley, including in both victim support and offender rehabilitation, as well as general roles.

Volunteering for Justice is the culmination of a six month long joint project between the Diocese of Worcester Criminal Justice Affairs Group and the University of Worcester.

The project was established following a major conference held in Worcester in November 2015 which identified the difficulties of finding available opportunities.

Volunteering for Justice was launched by the Bishop of Dudley, Graham Usher, at an Interfaith Criminal Justice Seminar held at the diocesan retreat and conference centre, Holland House, near Pershore on Wednesday.

Paul West, a former chief constable for West Mercia Police, is the Bishop’s Advisor on Criminal Justice Issues and a member of the diocesan group.

He said: "We’re not aware of anything similar to Volunteering for Justice having been published before.

"It’s a great resource for anyone who is interested in supporting the criminal justice sector by offering some time to help out.

"There are a huge range of opportunities on the site covering all areas of the diocese."

Posts available include working on helpdesks or with befriending schemes, mentoring or working with restorative justice schemes and the roles may be local or national.

The database is searchable by area and the type of volunteering opportunity and is open to all at cofe-worcester.org.uk/volunteeringforjustice