Welcome to our August edition. Here you will find a round-up of our month, including key updates on our work, feedback from people that we work with, and what to expect in the coming months.
Good news from Lucy
This month has seen some excellent work being carried out by our dedicated team of volunteer key workers, for which we would like to say thank you. Despite the ongoing challenges that we are facing as an organisation during the pandemic, we are continuing to deliver a wide range of high-quality support to our service users.
This work includes housing support being given to a client who has been in emergency accommodation since his release in April. Move on options were explored together and the client is moving into his new supported accommodation placement today, which he and us are incredibly pleased about.
Other work during the month includes a client being supported by his volunteer to visit his mother’s grave in London. Plans were arranged and agreed with the rehab and client and it was a successful intervention, which otherwise would not have been able to take place, a lot of work was put in place around this, we had to agree with the rehabs conditions, adhere to Government Legislation around Covid, and ensure the Health, wellbeing and safety of both client and Volunteer. A huge Thank you to everyone involved.
We have also seen another dedicated volunteer give his time above and beyond this month by supporting his client before and during a court hearing. This intervention provided a calming element for the client and demonstrated the continuing support that is available from Sussex Pathways, and what a different we can and do make in the lives of our clients and the Community.
A big thank you to everyone.
Prison news
· Some interesting reading on ‘Ministry of Justice single departmental plan 2019 – 2022’ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-justice-single-departmental-plan/ministry-of-justice-single-departmental-plan--3
· Good news also in that families can now visit their loved ones in Prison, this is an excellent step forward in this Covid-19 pandemic https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/news/director-general-of-prisons-phil-copple-issues-notice-to-prisoners-families
Other Information
·CLINKS and Eastside Primetimer have partnered to bring events via Zoom looking at the Dynamic Framework, I have attended many of these in the last few weeks to gain more information on the forthcoming Dynamic Framework which will take the place of the Community Reintegration Companies in June 2021.
· This month they looked at some of the Prime Providers for the DF and these included
MTC / G4S / Maximus / 3SC
We have submitted expressions of interest to these providers and will have to wait and see what happens now.
Restorative Justice
· The next round of Restorative Justice Training is booked for the end of Nov/beginning of Dec over 4 days, if anyone is interested in becoming an RJ Facilitator please let us know.
· Here is a link for the PCC survey which will have an impact on the review being undertaken for RJ in Sussex, your voice and views are vital to this review, so please click on the link and
complete the survey, it should take no more than 7/8 minutes.
· Live survey for our volunteer facilitators on the PCC Website: http://spccweb.thco.co.uk/service-delivery-model-review-volunteer-survey/
You do not need to log into the members area, so there should be no issues with needing to re set log in etc.
· Can I ask please, that you circulate this link to ALL of your volunteers, explaining the benefits of completion and asking if they would please complete by the end of next Friday.
Pathways to Change
· Very exciting news in that we are now starting our PTC and Thrive Inside groups in the Community, these will start on Thursday 3rd September, they will be held at the BAME centre in Brighton, the first group PTC starts at 4.15pm to 5.15pm and Thrive Inside starts 5.45pm to 6.45pm.
· Please contact Lucy and Nigel for more details.
NEW GROUP FOR PRISON LEAVERS
In addition to our 1-2-1 work, we now offer a new group
PATHWAYS TO CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY
Sussex Pathways already offers an experienced, tailored service of 1-2-1 support to prison leavers through our Volunteer Key Workers (VKWs). Together you will address factors that encourage rehabilitation and reduce re-offending, including accommodation needs, life skills, education training and employment, and signposting to specialist agencies.
To complement this we now offer Pathways to Change and Thriving Inside/outside in the Community, groups will be based in Brighton that can also be accessed via Zoom.
The group aims to equip people with life skills, address negative behaviours and encourage positive decision making, via a mindfulness-based approach.
A space is created where people can be heard and respected to address vulnerabilities to help them move forward in their resettlement.
Contact admin@sussexpathways.org, Lucy on 07958395829 or Nigel on…….. for more information.
www.sussexpathways.org.uk, Facebook- Sussex Pathways,
Twitter - Sussexpathways1, Instagram- Sussex_pathwaySussex Pathways,
HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Road, Lewes BN7 1EA, Phone: 01273 785335 Company number: 6741227/Charity number: 1127086
Message from Shirl
As many of you know I had an accident some 8 weeks ago where I fell off this beautiful creature, 5 year old Texas, standing at 16 HHs and being ridden by my daughter Kheira.
Now let me add that this was in no way Texas’s fault, I just forgot how to mount a horse, and the poor girl got a shock and bucked me off before I could get on properly, now if you can picture this you should be falling about laughing right now.
I am fine, a few fractures of my Hip and Pelvis, a week in Hospital, 5 weeks in Bexhill Convalescent home (my daughters house) and was spoiled the whole time, I am now home, on crutches and trying to run before I can walk, nothing new there I hear you all say. I will be progressing onto walking sticks very soon, and then driving and back to normal. So watch this space 😊
News & Media
CLINKS have been accepting applications for their Covid-19 grants programme, and here are some of the results, including Sussex Pathways being one of the successful applicants, I have also included the other brilliant Charities that CLINKS are supporting.
· Applications have been pouring into our ongoing Covid-19 response grants programme. One month after the programme was launched, and after careful consideration by our panel of over 100 applications, we're delighted to announce the first seven organisations to receive a grant to support them to continue working during the pandemic, with funding distributed on behalf of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Ministry of Justice. The grants panel has also approved a further four applications and we are confirming those grants in the coming weeks.
· Thank you to the many voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system who've so far taken the time to complete application forms and discuss their application with us. We're aiming to reach a diverse range of organisations with this programme, and it's been fantastic to hear from organisations across the breadth of England and Wales doing a wide variety of work with people in prisons, transitioning through the gate, and in the community. This opportunity continues to be open and we welcome applications from those with an existing relationship with HMPPS with under £500,000 annual income.
· Sussex Pathways
· RIFT Social Enterprise
· bthechange CIC
· Kestrel Theatre Company
· Odd Arts
· Tomorrows Women Wirral
· StandOut
· Never more needed
Final Thoughts
At Sussex Pathways we are always so aware that we could not exist without our volunteers, we have such an excellent and diverse team of volunteers, that range from Trustees, Volunteer Key Workers and Restorative Justice Facilitators, and from all the Staff we want to say a huge thank you for staying with us during Covid-19, joining us on our weekly Zoom check-ins, thank you for all your input into looking at new ways of working, and just for being who you are.