Sefton CVS: Brokering Services & Connecting Mentors

1. Sefton CVS:Brokering Services & Connecting Mentors Neil Frackelton Sefton CVS Opening Doors Event - 29th Nov 2011

2. VCF Sector Co-ordination Service – HMP Kennet/ Liverpool • 2007 – established partnership with HMP Kennet • Contract agreed – VCF Sector co-ordination (PO 4190) • Project evolved – strategic and operational perspective • Engagement with pathways, services and volunteering • Regional discussions – ROM, NOMS & DOM • Change of government – challenge and opportunity!!!

3. VCF Sector Co-ordination Service – HMP Kennet/ Liverpool • 2011 – negotiation with HMP Liverpool • Agreed proposal for pilot project – commenced role Nov 2011 • Vision – enhance VCF Sector engagement, identify opportunities & resource opportunities, project development • Engage multi-agency prison-based service providers • Community Prison model – ‘through the gate’ links • Significant Prison Senior Management support

4. Informal Mentoring Project – Background • Successfully secured NOMS (National Offender Management Service) funding Dec 2010 • Mentoring service to 200 - 300 Sefton/ Liverpool offenders (June 2011- June 2012) • High profile initiative – ministerial level interest • Links to Integrated Offender Management • Commenced delivery June 3rd 2011

5. Informal Mentoring Project – Partnerships • Well established partnerships - HMP Liverpool / Merseyside Probation/ Merseyside Police/ Merseyside Local Authorities • Significant Merseyside VCF Sector links (housing, training, employment, alcohol & substance misuse, etc.) • Strategy planned to work with Faith Sector • Monthly project steering groups – sharing information • Exploring extension to cover whole of Merseyside

6. Informal Mentoring Project – Mentees (Ex-Offenders) • November 2011 – engaged 115 offenders • 65 completed (minimum 3 contacts) successfully • 42 had Probation Support (over 12 months sentence) • 73 no Probation contact (less than 12 months sentence) • 21 - 25 age group most prevalent in referrals • 97% have previous offences

7. Informal Mentoring Project – Delivery Structure Project Co-ordinator (f-t) Project Support Worker (p-t) Project Support Worker (p-t) - 36 Volunteer Mentors - Partner Mentoring Projects

8. Informal Mentoring Project – Volunteer Mentors • Significant Volunteer Mentor enquiries • Screening process in place • 36 Mentors Fully Trained – including peer mentors • Further recruitment campaigns underway • Systems in place to monitor/ support Volunteer Mentors • Actively matching mentors/ mentees • Cross-section of Merseyside community

9. Final thoughts . . . . . . . • Focus energy on building partnerships – long-term solution • Align service delivery with the reducing (re)-offending agenda • Keep things simple, meaningful and measurable

10. KEEP POSITIVE – the CJS needs you!

11. Contact details Neil Frackelton Vicky Corlett Civil Society Lead Informal Mentoring Project Co-ordinator Sefton CVS Sefton CVS neil.frackelton@seftoncvs.org.ukvictoria.corlett@seftoncvs.org.uk 0151 928 2233 ext. 111 0151 928 2233 ext. 311 Paula Atherton HMP Liverpool Liaison Officer Sefton CVS paula.atherton@seftoncvs.org.uk 0151 928 2233 ext. 111