Blog: Recruiting dedicated Independent Prison Monitors

Dedicated volunteers across the UK carry out preventive monitoring of places where people are deprived of their liberty. This month, Vilma Kirvelaite from HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland tells us how the Independent Prison Monitoring team have revamped their volunteer recruitment to attract committed independent prison monitors.

Recruiting Independent Prison Monitors (IPMs) who care deeply about justice, fairness, and human rights is critical to our goal of preventing torture and ill treatment of people deprived of their liberty. A few years ago, our team agreed that we needed to refresh our volunteer recruitment approach to make it more engaging, visible, and in tune with today’s world. By implementing new strategies and focusing on the impact of this important role, we have seen incredible results, including a surge in applications from qualified candidates who want to make a difference.

Broadening our reach with social media

Social media has become one of our most effective recruitment tools. By expanding our presence and sharing personal stories on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, we’re reaching a wider audience and showcasing the impact and unique opportunities and rewards that come with being an independent prison monitor. Through paid, targeted ads, we have been able to connect directly with individuals based on location, interests, and career backgrounds—reaching potential volunteers who might not have otherwise encountered our organisation.

Building partnerships for greater impact

Our partnerships with key organisations have also been invaluable. For example, teaming up with Veterans Scotland has helped us connect with individuals whose military backgrounds align with the role’s demands. These veterans bring skills, discipline, and a sense of duty that are ideal for prison monitoring. We also work closely with the Scottish Government’s employee network, Saltire, which helps us connect with public service professionals who value transparency and accountability. These partnerships bring in individuals aligned with our mission to uphold public trust. We are currently working on our Corporate Social Responsibility pack as the next step to attract more working-age participants.

Engaging university students

Recognising the value of fresh perspectives, we’ve reached out to universities, liaising with professors and hosting information sessions. For students—particularly those in criminal justice, psychology, or sociology—volunteering as a prison monitor offers hands-on experience that complements their studies. Stories from current student volunteers help illustrate the role’s value, and we’re seeing a growing number of young volunteers eager to make a difference while developing practical skills.

Collaborating with volunteer networks

Working with Volunteer Scotland has enabled us to tap into a wider pool of people actively seeking meaningful volunteer roles. By highlighting the direct impact of independent prison monitoring on prison conditions and inmate welfare, we’ve attracted volunteers from diverse backgrounds who may not have initially considered this role.

Real results

Since adopting these strategies, applications have surged—we saw an almost six-fold increase in just two months. Our team is more diverse than ever, and we’re not only attracting more volunteers but also retaining them longer. Diversity is essential in a functioning NPM, and is recognised as important to preventive work in OPCAT article 18. The numbers show this multi-pronged approach is working, bringing in people who share our values and want to make a difference.

Streamlined training for immediate impact

Once volunteers are on board, we aim to get them trained and ready to contribute quickly. Our modernised training and tracking processes allow us to support each volunteer’s progress, while our strong partnership with the Scottish Prison Service has enabled us to speed up training timelines. Since March, we’ve cut the time from application to appointment by nearly 40%, helping new volunteers get started straight away.

Become an independent monitor

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to contribute to a fairer society, consider signing up to volunteer as an independent monitor. Wherever you are in the UK, and whatever your background, there are opportunities to volunteer to help prevent ill treatment in places where people are deprived of their liberty. Apply today to help us drive positive change.

Scotland

• Prison monitoring with HM Inspectorate of Prisons Scotland
• Police custody monitoring with Independent Custody Visiting Scotland

England and Wales

• Prison and immigration detention monitoring with Independent Monitoring Boards
• Police custody monitoring with your local Independent Custody Visiting Scheme
• Court custody monitoring with Lay Observers

Northern Ireland

• Prison and immigration detention monitoring with the Independent Monitoring Board Northern Ireland
• Police custody monitoring with the Northern Ireland Policing Board Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

Vilma Kirvelaite is the Independent Prison Monitoring Support Officer at His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons in Scotland (HMIPS), charged with coordinating independent prison monitoring activities in Scotland, including recruiting, training and assigning volunteers to monitor all prisons in Scotland on a weekly basis, and publishing reports on their findings.

Across the 21 NPM bodies, more than 2500 monitors volunteer their time to ensure closed institutions are visited every week. In addition to preventing torture and ill treatment, the reports from these visits help create a picture of each establishment over time, informing national and international understanding of issues and trends. Follow the UK NPM on LinkedIn and Bluesky to learn about future volunteer opportunities.