Prison Radio Association uses radio to support the rehabilitation of offenders and ex-offenders in England and Wales through National Prison Radio (NPR).  NPR is the first radio station for prisoners and Straightline Radio is the world’s first radio and online digital media channel for prison leavers.  Straightline aims to improve prison leavers’ lives and reduce levels of reoffending.

A grant will enable PRA to employ a specialist research and evaluation consultant to assess their current broadcasting strategy.

This will assist PRA in improving their understanding of audience needs and the impact the service has on prisoners in the short and long-term.  It will build awareness and interest in Straightline Radio amongst the prison population so that they can tune in after their release and recognise it as a source of information and support. The outcome of the evaluation will enable better communication of impact and increased income generation through advertising and grant funding.

Safe Welcome After Prison supports offenders upon release from prison, many of whom have multiple complex needs. They offer a change of lifestyle programme which ultimately contributes to the success of them not reoffending and returning to custody. It’s a user led service offering loans and gifts of vital necessities as well as supporting health and housing needs until benefits are paid.  This can prevent a return to acquisitive crime during those crucial early weeks after release.

The grant will fund a Volunteer Coordinator post for 2 years to train service users to become volunteers who are at the core of service delivery. After three years the organisation would have absorbed the role of the Volunteer Coordinator and a robust approach to volunteering into its culture and the role will no longer be necessary in a paid capacity.

Circles South West was established in 2010 providing specialist support and accountability in the community to people who have sexually offended. This unique model uses highly trained volunteers who meet as a group with the offender to provide vital weekly support to help them take responsibility for their actions and prevent reoffending.  

The grant will fund a part-time Training Coordinator to lead the development and delivery of paid for training and consultancy to enhance the skills, knowledge and understanding of other professionals, organisations and local communities around working with those who sexually offend.  This will enable these stakeholders to effectively engage with people with this offending history, or who have harmful sexual behaviour, and contribute to the prevention of sexual abuse.  The ongoing training fees generated through this will provide a crucial new sustainable income stream for Circles South West which will support their long-term development.

The Reasons Why Foundation provides a behavioural change mentoring service to people with criminal convictions across the London region. Individual long term support empowers service users to achieve their potential and lead positive and productive lives and reduce reoffending.

The grant will fund an Operations Manager who will work closely with the CEO, freeing them up to develop and implement a social franchising model based on their programme.  This model will increase the scale and impact of the work of RWF, whilst maintaining the small local feel of the organisation that they believe makes their approach authentic.  Ten franchises are expected to receive support from RWF working with a minimum of 100 participants each after 3 years. The franchise fees will fund the new post at the end of the grant period and provide additional income for RWF.

Junction 42 provide a range of projects and support services within the prison service and in the community addressing issues for ex-offenders focusing on chaotic lifestyles and family instability. They work hard to break down the significant barriers that exist for ex-offenders due to their criminal convictions such as social isolation and access to employment.

The grant will fund a technology consultant to identify improvements that can be made across the organisation to make their internal processes more effective and streamlined. This will include procuring and implementing some core business tools including a new database to store and manage data more efficiently, especially in regards to measuring impact. This will lead to an increase in Junction 42’s capacity and long term organisational resilience. 

Tempus Novo focuses on assisting ex-offenders into employment.  Founded by two ex-prison officers in 2014, Tempus Novo has achieved high placement and retention rates with over 50 employers and reduced the number of participants re-offending substantially. Ex-Offenders and employers are provided with continuing support for 6 months following placement to ensure the smooth transition into employment.

The grant will be used to employ a Development Officer with experience of the logistics industry. By developing an employment pathway into the logistics industry, ex-offenders will be able to obtain logistics and transport related qualifications and leave prison to take up employment opportunities in all areas of logistics operations.  This will increase the number of ex-offenders gaining and retaining employment, and impact positively on the market position of Tempus Novo, increasing their revenue and reliance on grant funding.

RECOOP offers bespoke training to support the preparatory resettlement and rehabilitation of offenders over 50 years of age. This will empower them to take control of their lives, optimise their physical and mental health, remain free of re-offending and make an active and positive contribution to their communities.

The grant will support the development of this training into a Distance Learning package for prisons and Approved Premises, enabling RECOOP to reach more individuals and offer a flexible solution to future restricted access to face to face working.  There is already considerable interest in this model being integrated into the virtual learning campus across the prison estate. By the end of the grant, RECOOP will have developed their training into a commercial programme that will contribute stronger financial stability and self-reliance on generating income into the future.

On the Out works with offenders as they leave prison and re-enter the community. Support is provided by a team of ex-offenders who understand the challenges linked to being released with nothing and assist with accessing accommodation, and support around mental health, addiction and emotional issues.

The grant will fund a dedicated post that will coordinate and develop a new 45 bed supported housing project using a programme that has been created and delivered by people who have themselves spent time in custody. This will ultimately generate a reliable income stream to fund more staff and volunteers, enabling growth and the long term development of a credible approach to de-institutionalising ex-offenders.  Salford University will evaluate the sustainability of the project with a view to increasing the accommodation, resources and self-sufficiency of CIC going forward.

Finding Rhythms works within prisons and in the community to change the behaviour of offenders through creating music. Musicians, experienced in delivering engagement programmes in difficult settings, run sessions to teach participants to write, compose and record their own original music based on their experiences and feelings.  This enables them to gain qualifications, and learn how to build strong supportive relationships on their journey to not reoffending.  

The grant will increase the capacity of the Creative and Business Director and the administrative support team, and create a bank of high quality facilitators focused on building the emotional intelligence of beneficiaries.  This will enable the service to become more strategic: building stronger partnerships with prisons and local authorities leading to delivering planned, rather than ad hoc, services.  This will improve outcomes for participants and sustainability for the charity