My first contact with CÍRCULOS ESPAÑA came after I happened to see a poster advertising a number of volunteering opportunities in Alicante. I had previously been a summer camp leader and had done other kinds of volunteering, but this one in particular caught my attention because of my interest in the prison sector and my belief that people who had committed certain offences should have the opportunity to find a place in society again. This programme offered exactly that: the chance to accompany these people through that process, helping them find a space where they can speak with confidence, feel listened to and take steps towards a different life.
When you tell people close to you that you are involved in this kind of volunteering, they often prejudge or question the work being done, but they don’t know what our day-to-day is like or how we work with the Core Member. It’s true that, as a “first-time volunteer”, you often don’t quite know how to act, or can’t find the right words to offer the help you would like to, but fortunately in these cases you can count on the support of experienced people… In my case, Manuela, a professional who was there at all times to guide and help us, not only with how to deal with the circle, but also with our own view and experience of it, holding monthly follow-ups to assess how our involvement in the project was affecting our day-to-day lives.
The sessions take place in a specific space, where we meet regularly to get to know each other and, little by little, naturally build a relationship of trust. At first, we talked about everyday things: how the week had gone, what our interests were, how we saw certain issues and what goals we would like to achieve in the short and long term.
Although these may seem like simple conversations, I think that is where an important part of the programme lies. Over time, that space becomes an environment where it is possible to talk naturally, share concerns and address situations that may be harder to put into words outside that context. A close relationship develops in which the Core Member can feel listened to and supported, without leaving aside the uncomfortable topics and the responsibility that is part of his reintegration process.
As the relationship develops, we also identify opportunities that can help him in different areas of his life. For example, on the work front, we support him in writing a CV, looking for a job or accessing platforms where he can find vacancies. On the social side, we try to get to know his interests and explore activities that allow him to build new connections, such as playing a sport or taking part in outdoor leisure activities, bringing us as close as possible to anyone’s everyday life.
In my opinion, this last point is one of the most important, because the programme is not only about returning to society, but also about finding ways to be part of it. Loneliness and difficulty in forming new relationships can often become major obstacles, especially when we are talking about people who need to rebuild much of their social network.
During the meetings we also deal with issues that may seem very basic, such as organising a routine, developing habits, coping with setbacks or finding solutions to difficult situations. However, for someone who has spent many years in prison, regaining that independence and adapting to certain dynamics of everyday life can be a considerable challenge. In this sense, I believe the value of volunteering also lies in sharing experiences, listening, offering other points of view and, despite our differences (in my case, being younger), accompanying without claiming to always have the right answer… Sometimes, being able to talk about a difficulty openly, hearing how others have faced similar situations or simply feeling understood can help you find new ways of dealing with problems.
I have also learned that it is not about sorting out the Core Member’s life, but about guiding him so that he can gradually acquire tools, make his own decisions and build an increasingly independent life, away from crime, with acceptance as a core value. That is why I encourage more people to join initiatives like this. As Diana Vivò Cordòn, the programme coordinator, said in an interview published on this site: “Volunteers bring something that a purely professional intervention can hardly offer: a normalised community relationship. They share conversation, activities and experiences in a relationship based on closeness, but also on commitment to the programme’s boundaries and goals.” For me, the experience changed the way I understand these people’s need to be helped and supported, as one more step towards being part of a complex society.
And that is the value of CÍRCULOS ESPAÑA: the possibility of creating a close bond, based on empathy and free of prejudice, where support has a preventive purpose and is not about justifying behaviour or replacing professional intervention, but about contributing a part of ourselves that trusts in these people. Volunteers do not walk the path for the person; they walk alongside them while they learn to walk it on their own.
It is worth noting that the Health and Community Foundation (FSC) promotes this project, in coordination with other social organisations, to support the social reintegration of high-risk people who have committed sexual offences, with the aim of preventing reoffending and avoiding new victims (“No more victims”).
The programme runs in the Community of Madrid, as well as in Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza, Murcia and Seville, and is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda through the 0.7% allocation of Personal Income Tax (IRPF) and by the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions of the Ministry of the Interior, with the support of the “la Caixa” Foundation.
Carlos Torrejón Vaquero, CÍRCULOS ESPAÑA volunteer in Alicante.
