As of July 2011 Khulisa UK has taken Milestones mentoring project under its wing. Based at HMYOI Portland it provides volunteer mentors from the community who work one to one supporting prisoners being released to Dorset, Hampshire and London.
For information about Milestones please email
John, Programme Manager, on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01305 715694.
John has a background in education, working as a teacher in both Primary & Secondary schools in the UK. He went on to become Deputy Headteacher at the International School of Helsinki in !983 before returning to England to become Headteacher of a Primary School in Dorset until 1998. At the same time he was involved in work at HMP the Verne, an adult prison, specialising in foreign national prisoners, on Portland, Dorset
In 2002 John was one of three full-time mentors selected to work for Nacro on the then ground-breaking mentoring project, On-Side, at HMYOI Portland. Working with clients deemed as having the most risk factors, the project led the way in through-the-gate support for young offenders and was recognised following its evaluation in 2005 as highly successful.
In 2005 he was asked to develop a new project using volunteers from the community as mentors and Milestones was born. Working initially across Dorset & Hampshire, Milestones subsequently expanded into London. The project was recognised nationally in 2011 with the award of a Butler Trust Commendation.
If you are a young person or mentor with the programme, you can contact the Programme Co-ordinators
Verity ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 01305 715694) or
Annabel ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 020 7561 3723 or 077 9235 2845)
Verity joined Khulisa in July 2011 and is responsible for coordinating Milestones in Dorset and Hampshire. She began working at HMP/YOI Portland in 2009 for the crime reduction charity Nacro on two different resettlement projects. Working with 18 and 19 year olds returning to London, she ran the ESF/LDA funded In-Touch project which supported young offenders in finding sustainable employment and training on release. The project also involved delivering a skills development course to participants prior to leaving custody.
Prior to coming to Portland, Verity graduated from Brighton University in 2009, with a degree in Humanities, having already worked for Macmillan Cancer Support as a Fundraising Assistant. This role involved supporting lots of different fundraising events (including abseiling down a 120ft cliff despite having a phobia of heights!) and managing volunteers at the charity. Seeing the inspiring work of volunteers led her to want a career in this sector. Having held a long term interest in the Criminal Justice sector, the opportunity to work with Khulisa fulfilled both ambitions.
Verity divides her time between the prison and the community, supporting her fantastic mentors and mentees.
Annabel has had substantial involvement in mentoring both in education and criminal justice. As a school pupil Annabel was e-mentored by a young professional where she received support in choosing her university degree subject.
Prior to university Annabel was invited to attend the Bournemouth University Summer School (BUSS) where she was mentored by an older student. As a Bournemouth University student Annabel was a mentor at three different annual summer schools working with school pupils and prospective university students including disabled and mature students. During her final year at university, in 2007, Annabel joined the Milestones project as a volunteer mentor working with young ex-offenders and she continued to volunteer after completing her degree in Marketing.
In June 2010 Annabel was appointed as the London Volunteer Officer on the Milestones mentoring project. Her work has expanded from overseeing mentoring
relationships in the community to actively taking referrals in HMP/YOI Isis for mentoring pre and post release. Annabel and the rest of the Milestones team
joined Khulisa in July 2011. She hopes to grow the project by working with more volunteers and young ex-offenders.
Annabel's infectious enthusiasm for mentoring has led to friends and family becoming mentors on Milestones and other projects. ( See photo with Annabel on the left )
