Our Vision

Our vision is to build stronger and safer local communities across Dorset and Hampshire.

Mission

We train volunteers in the community to provide person centred support for people who have been in prison, have received a community sentence or a caution from the Police, enabling them to lead purposeful, fulfilling lives, contributing positively to the local community. 

The Need

The people we support are often socially isolated

• 24% have grown up in care (compared to 2% of the general population)
• 29% have suffered abuse in childhood
• 42% have been permanently expelled from school (compared to>1% of school pupils in England)
• 47% have no formal qualifications (compared to 15% of the adult working age population)
• 68% were unemployed before entering custody (compared to 7.7% of the economically active population)
• 15% are homeless
• up to 49% of female offenders and 23% of male offenders suffer with anxiety and depression (compared to 15% of the general population)

46% of people released from prison will re-offend within a year of release. For those serving short custodial sentences and those under 18 years old this raises to over 80%. 

Our Services

We help women like J escape the cycle of crime through one-to-one mentoring and re-training.

We support over 200 people a year with:

• Provision of ‘through the gate’ and community mentoring of offenders who are, or will be residing, in Dorset and Hampshire.
• Specialist female only support for women including our Out of Court Diversionary Scheme for women in conjunction with Dorset Police and Police and Crime Commissioner
• Crisis support at the CRC Hub in Bournemouth
• Support and skills training for residents at Approved Premises in Hampshire, including basic woodwork training, healthy eating and Food Hygiene Level 2 training
• Provision of training, volunteer opportunities and work experience through our Life Works programme in partnership with Parkstone United Reformed Church.

 It costs around £275,000 to deliver our support per year.

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