Portsmouth dad wins volunteer award a year after returning home from prison

A Portsmouth father who returned home from prison last year has won a volunteering award after spending seven months helping other people rebuild their lives.

Rob Prior, founder of Sidekick Initiative, collected the New Volunteer Award at the Portsmouth Inspiring Volunteer Awards on Tuesday 6 October. His children watched from the audience at the Kings Theatre.

He had not prepared a speech because he did not expect to win. Rob described feeling shocked and overwhelmed when his name was called.

“My kids got to see me win,” he said.

For Rob, who says his children are proud and inspired by what he has done, that moment followed a difficult return home. After being away from his family, he struggled with how quiet life felt and initially felt he did not belong.

During his time in prison, Rob studied for qualifications, became a Shannon Trust reading mentor and earned the TQUK Level 3 Award in Education and Training. He taught classes and supported fellow prisoners with their mental health, learning needs and recovery.

The decision to restart Sidekick came after another organisation failed to attend a pop-up stand he had arranged at a tattoo convention. Rob printed social media QR codes, built a website and put his own idea into action. People began reaching out, and the initiative grew.

Since then, his support has included daily check-ins, late-night conversations, gym sessions and helping someone find temporary accommodation before returning home to their family.

Alongside that work, Rob has taken on mountain challenges and run more than 100 miles during his September suicide awareness challenge. He dedicates challenges to people who have died and uses them to encourage conversations about mental health and recovery.

“It’s just been about getting up every day, reaching out to those that need it,” he said.

The awards, organised by HIVE Portsmouth, brought Rob into contact with other volunteers working across the city. He now wants to build stronger connections with those supporting communities in Portsmouth North.

Rob says he has funded Sidekick through his own work while juggling business, family life and the demands of supporting people.

His next aim is a permanent base in the north of Portsmouth with 24-hour access, giving him somewhere to work when people reach out outside normal office hours. He also wants to build a volunteer team to help carry the work forward.