Blog VOLONTE

VOLONTÉ, in cooperation with the Prison Service of the Czech Republic and the Men’s Open League (LOM), has launched a project focused on the prevention of violent behaviour and on strengthening the professional capacities of prison staff. The initial activity was an expert roundtable held on 3 November 2025 at the LOM premises in Prague–Holešovice. Roundtable at LOM (3 November 2025) The meeting was attended by educators, social workers, teachers and special-education teacher

As of 1 January 2026, we are implementing the VOL Connection  project (1 January 2026 – 31 December 2027). We focus on children of incarcerated parents and their families , who often need quick orientation in their situation and follow-up support. The project’s aim is to make help clearer, more accessible, and better connected  across services and institutions. A key part of the project is also to pilot a new way of connecting a child with a parent serving a prison sentence ,

The international project WORKPRIS (reg. no. 2024-1-AT01-KA210-VET-000252330), implemented under the Erasmus+ programme, delivered a new training framework, a competency profile and a workshop model for staff of third sector organisations working in prisons. The project also involved the organisation VOLONTÉ CZECH, o.p.s. (VOLONTÉ). The project “WORKPRIS – Preparing Third Sector Organizations for Work with People in Prison” ran from 1 October 2024 to 30 November 2025. Its aim

photo: Pavel Rakušan / VOLONTÉ CZECH During the pre-Christmas period, two St Nicholas events took place in which prisoners, prison staff and representatives of VOLONTÉ joined forces. Thanks to their mutual support, activities were created that brought joy to children and mothers alike. The first event took place on 3 December  in cooperation with Rýnovice Prison. Accompanied by staff and educators, prisoners visited a shelter for mothers with children in Stráž nad Nisou. They

At the 46th Czech-Slovak Forensic Psychiatric Conference held at the Za plotem Theatre in the Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital, Mgr. Marek Navrátil from the National Institute of Mental Health gave a presentation. In his lecture “Risk Assessment in Sexual Offenders” he introduced the specific features of working with risk in perpetrators of sexually motivated criminal offences and showed what changes the projects Změna OL and GLM+ can bring into practice. “For perpetrators of sex

On 4 December 2025, on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, a ceremonial closing of the professional qualification “Assistant Cook of Fast Food Dishes” (code ZŠ PK 65-003-E) took place in Světlá nad Sázavou Prison. The ceremony and the awarding of certificates of completion of the professional qualification by the accredited institution – the Business Academy, Higher Medical School and Secondary Medical School, Secondary School of Services and Language School with the right to state

On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, a workshop focused on mental well-being for women in prison will take place at Kuřim Prison. The workshop is titled: “The Power of Inner Calm in a Tense Environment – How to Stay Calm When Chaos Is All Around.” Participants will learn techniques to manage stress, work with emotions, and strengthen their inner balance. The workshop will be led by Mgr. Iva Barnincová  from the LBM Institute , whose experience in mental health and psychosocial su

On November 3, 2025, a barber course was launched in Všehrdy Prison for five participants. The course is part of the project VOL Comprehensive Employment Program  (Reg. No.: CZ.03.01.01/00/24_078/0005026), funded by the European Social Fund  and the state budget of the Czech Republic  under the Operational Programme Employment Plus . The project is implemented by VOLONTÉ CZECH, o.p.s.  in cooperation with prisons across the country. The course opening was attended by staff of

On 23 October 2025, an expert workshop was held at Světlá nad Sázavou Prison, bringing together representatives of prisons, child protection authorities (OSPOD), children’s homes and other professionals at one table. Together, we shared experience and identified what is most lacking in the system of support for children whose parents are serving a prison sentence.  The meeting showed clearly that connecting practice across institutions makes sense. The exchange of experience

Interview with JUDr. Ladislava Steinichová. JUDr. Ladislava Steinichová talks about her path to law, which began during the era of normalization, when her interest in psychology and sociology gave way to a decision to study at the Faculty of Law. In the interview, she describes how she helped shape the modern Czech framework for employment and why she calls the “Employment Act” her “third child.” She also opens the topic of making law understandable in everyday practice and h