Volunteer Story - Mattie

Social work student Mattie joined Pathway's writers' group just five months ago, but her experience has already shifted her perspective in profound ways.

Mattie was drawn to volunteer work that aligned with her interest in restorative justice. What she discovered exceeded her expectations entirely.

"I actually kind of forgot that we were in a prison for a bit. It just felt like we were all just friends talking," Mattie reflects on her first visit to the Navigate Initiative. The reality of connecting with Tū Ora challenged assumptions she didn't even realise she held.

"The guys were really welcoming. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I'd never been into a prison before and you sort of see what's on TV and you can't really make up your mind on what it's going to be like."

Now, however, Mattie is a regular member of the writers’ group that meets on Wednesday evenings in the Navigate Initiative Unit. Sessions begin with icebreakers and conversation, followed by collaborative writing exercises where everyone participates. "We'll do an activity... that might be maybe like 10 to 15 minutes of writing time and then we'll go around and we'll share what we've written," Mattie explains.

What strikes Mattie most is the commitment she witnesses each Wednesday evening. "They've got no obligation to show up, you know, they don't have to, but they do. So it makes me want to show up more for them."

This mutual dedication has created meaningful connections. During one recent session, she spent the entire hour simply talking with participants. "I looked at my watch and then it was nearly 7 o'clock and I thought, oh, I've got to go."

The experience has equipped Mattie to challenge stereotypes in her daily life. "I think my hope is... to have more conversations with people in my life about what Pathway does... giving other people the viewpoint that I've got and that Pathway has, of a second chance."

"People are really quick to stereotype as soon as you've done something wrong," she observes. "But I think now I've got a real mindset of, you know, you can do something wrong, but it's the way that you reframe your life after you've done something wrong."

For Mattie, volunteering has become about much more than giving time; it's about the power of genuine connection.

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