Leaving PrisonSupport Organisations

Who are they?

A charity founded by a group of former prisoners They use their experience to help other people with convictions

Belief that the solution lies in social, not criminal justice Aim to overcome the social exclusion of offenders, thereby breaking the

cycle of offending

Advocacy

Individual support to someone treated unfairly because of a conviction Support cannot be guaranteed; basis of merit; points in the right

direction Cannot provide legal representation or advice; work with solicitors and

barristers who they can refer cases to (with permission) Type of support includes:

Writing letters on your behalf Speaking directly to an employer, colleges or regulatory bodies themselves Representing you at a disciplinary hearing

What else can UNLOCK offer?

Disclosure Calculator, Information Hub, Online Forum Unfortunately these can only be accessed when Internet access is available upon

release. Helpline

Provides information and advice if the above resources don’t address the question.

Who are they?

A national charity which delivers offender rehabilitation services across England.

Support for adult male and female offenders and those at risk of offending, enabling them to make positive life changes and live life, crime-free.

Langley House Trust is also: A Housing Association, regulated by the Homes and Communities

Agency Registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide registered care

at several sites.

What are their services?

Langley’s services include:

Housing

Health and social care

Multiple and complex needs

What does Apex do?

Increases employment prospects for ex-offenders through its programmes

The kind of people that Apex can help Helps to identifying strengths, weakness and transferable skills Ensuring they know about the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, Disclosure

& Barring Service (DBS) and disclosing convictions to potential employers

Provides advocacy to Education Training and Employment (ETE) opportunities

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Supports the rehabilitation into employment of reformed offenders What are spent convictions? How long does it take for convictions to be

spent? How does the Act treat a rehabilitated person? What are the exceptions to not having to reveal a spent conviction?

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) What is the DBS for? Jobs that involve carrying out certain activities for children and

vulnerable adults may require an enhanced DBS check with a check of the barred lists.

A DBS criminal record certificate can be requested by an employer which must include all the cautions given for a specific list of offences, and any other cautions and convictions that the individual has been given in the past.

Each employer is best placed to consider whether someone is suitable for a particular job, and a DBS check is there to help choose the correct applicant.

At the end of it, what is the idea behind this organisation?

What do they do?

Caring for Ex-Offenders works through the local church to confront injustice and poverty and care for those in need.

How? Projects that tackle the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised in the

community Help to resource and equip churches around the UK and the world to

support those in their communities.

How does it work?

Coordinates a link between someone coming out of prison and their local church community in order to better assist the individual’s successful resettlement into society.

Training Mentor relationship Signposting What can local churches do? Helping individuals

Supporting Ex-Offenders

CFEO can connect you with a local church and a mentor if ex-offenders would like to receive extra support upon your release.

The team will assist you in finding accommodation and employment, as well as offer help with addictions, debt advice, and other practical matters.

Who are they?

A charity founded in 1962 which aims to help break the cycle of prison, crime and disadvantage by supporting people to change their lives.

Their key principle? What do their caseworkers do?

Four Essential Needs

Something to live for Somewhere to live Support from someone who has been there Positive relationships Focus on helping ex-offenders who are most excluded from the job

market. Local partnerships with potential employers and other agencies with a

commitment to employing disadvantaged people or giving them volunteering and/or work placement opportunities.

Support Offered

Intensive support to help young people identify and realise their goals and aspirations and overcome any issue which might be holding them back from achieving these.

Examples Information & advice Support with the aim of reintegration e.g. housing, bank accounts Specialist support for families

National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

What can they help with?

Education Housing Substance Misuse

What else can they offer?

Offender Management Resettlement Advice Centre

Who they are and what they do

Operates 365 days a year in both England and Scotland to provide housing for those at risk of homelessness or in substandard housing since 1966.

Campaigning and lobbying for around 50 years with some landmark achievements in the way of housing law including the introduction of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in England, or the ground-breaking commitment in Scotland that, from 2012, everyone will have the right to a home.

Shelter operates differently in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland than in England.

How they can help

Shelter have offer various helplines for advice on issues from substandard housing and potential homelessness to mortgage arrears all completely free and confidential available 365 days of the year

Examples of areas of advice offered:Housing matters – Finding a home, repossession, social housing, taxesMoney matters – housing tax, benefits, rent arrears

Advice given on the topics previously listed can be given in person or by telephone.

Hull does not have an in person advice centre for Shelter but you would be directed to the Citizens Advice Centre.

Any questions?Support Organisations