Prison Volunteer Jan Wins Zonta Unsung Hero Award

Published on: 6 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 8 Nov, 2019

Prison volunteer Jan Hancock has won the centenary award for Unsung Hero by the Zonta Club of Guildford for her work with women prisoners. The award was presented at a celebration dinner tonight (November 6).

Jan visits the prison weekly, mentoring prisoners. She is also a part of the team which delivers the Sycamore course on victim awareness. This is an essential part of restorative justice, with prisoners learning to accept responsibility for their crimes, their impact on victims and on the community.

Club president Olive Jones said: “Through Zonta’s local service work with women in prison we soon became aware of this essential work not only in helping them get through their time in prison but in preparing them for life outside. Jan is definitely an unsung hero, dedicating so much time to this essential support work.”

Jan said: ‘I’m part of a large team which is passionate about what we do. The team members come from all walks of life and bring a huge range of experience. It is a privilege to be a part of it. I’m delighted to accept the award as much on behalf of the team as on my own behalf.

Zonta International is a worldwide organisation that has empowered women and girls through service and advocacy. It was founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York, by a group of forward-thinking women not satisfied with the predominantly social nature of many women’s organisations.

The founders envisioned a women’s service organisation that would advocate for laws and policies that ensure gender equality and help every woman and girl realize her full potential.

Zonta International is a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It promotes and strives to protect the human rights of all women and girls and reduce the incidences of violence against them.

Since 1923, Zonta has provided more than US$40.9 million to empower women and expand their access to education, health care, economic opportunities and safe living conditions. Zonta’s nearly 1,200 clubs support local and regional initiatives in 63 countries.