May 2022
Welcome to our May 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.
Organisation news
Dynamic Framework Update
Dynamic Framework continues to see clients referred for the Emotional Well being service across Sussex and Surrey and recently had the first 2 clients graduate from the course run as a group in Crawley. Each was presented with a certificate of completion to show their willingness to engage and wanting to help themselves to make a better future.
One of the elements of DF work which is similar to Pathways to change work is that we look to also signpost the Clients to other services or organisations. We have so far also referred 4 clients to 'Spark inside' who run a 'Hero's programme with life coaching for the same demographic of clients we are seeing through DF (Youths & Ethnic Minorities). We have another 2 clients who are also interested in taking up this service and will be also referring them to Spark.
Early May Saw Sophie Walker leave us for pastures new and we are pleased to welcome the familiar face of Neal Alliston to the team taking on the Sussex DF Role. Neal has worked for 'Spugeons' children's charity for the last 5years, also situated within HMP Lewes delivering their Family support service. Neal has previously before that role worked at Sussex Police HQ and during that time became a volunteer Key Worker with Sussex Pathways. He also has experience assisting in running the groups, held in prison with clients previously, before covid lockdown and is also an RJ Facilitator.
Neal starts with us on 20th June and I'm sure you will all offer him a warm welcome to his new DF Role.
Restorative Justice Update
Susie recently delivered a session for the HMPPS Insights Festival on RJ in prisons and although only attended by a small number, it was a useful time to think about what we are doing and what might be possible for restorative practice in prison in the future. We were joined by a former prison officer who had been assaulted on the job (not in Sussex) and who had actively sought out a restorative process after the offence. It was fascinating and moving to hear her story.
Sussex Pathways staff and volunteers are currently facilitating 18 cases across the partnership, and it was encouraging to see so many join the new monthly RJ case meeting and hear from several facilitators on a wide range of cases. A great opportunity to share learning and reflections! Please join we for the next meeting on 29th June at 10 am.
With National Volunteers' Week coming up at the beginning of June, we also want to take this chance to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteer facilitators and key workers. We are so grateful for all your hard work, amazing persistence and enthusiasm - Sussex Pathways wouldn't exist without you!
Pathways to Change Update
May has flown by and we are now saying goodbye to our three students Chloe, Jack and Kirsty, have been very busy over the last 3 months with their casework with many positive outcomes being seen to have occurred. The latest group of VKWs are now up and running with their casework beginning, and they are meeting their clients for the first time primarily in HMP Lewes following the assessment process carried out by Lilly. This means that all staff are getting busier and we will be resuming the delivery of the group work programme on Monday 6th June and then the second weekly session will begin in the first week of July. We have held the first briefing for staff and VKWs this week and we will be holding a second one at the end of June for the Thursday session, info will be shared very soon.
For the clients being released the biggest issue is accommodation available and it is sometimes the resolve and determination of Key workers supporting them in getting accommodated that wins the day. We are through the assessment and identification earlier in the day being able to develop a good positive relationship with clients pre-release and the sight of a member of staff out on the wings in our Polo shirts is a common sight. We have almost 40 active cases with about 12 in the community and 12 identified for the groups the majority of whom will be released in the next couple of months. It feels that we are back to the level of cases and releases that I remember from 2020 with a release every week.
News Outside the organisation
Mental Health Awareness Week
May 9-15 was mental health awareness week. This years theme was loneliness, which around 1 out of 4 adults experience some or all of the time. There are a number of different reasons why some people might feel lonely and no two cases are the same. People experiencing loneliness are at higher risk of suffering from mental health problems. Hopefully we can continue to look out for one and other and ensure that we are looking out for those around us. If you have any concerns for anyone you know, please sign post them here https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health
Around 400 retail workers are abused every day in the UK. This shocking statistic is reflected in the local police forces current actions, with around 93% of them considering business crime as a priority for their force area. Sussex Police and Crime commissioner spoke this month at the ORIS Cross Forum Risk Summit. She spoke about protecting their workforces and what we are doing here in Sussex to tackle theft from businesses and abuse or assaults on staff. The pandemic showed how essential retails workers are in the UK so the message of #ShopKind couldn’t be any more relevant.
Read more here: https://orisforums.co.uk/
Children on Remand
The Howard League for Penal Reform published their second briefing as a result of a project aimed at understanding and helping children on remand with their unmet legal support needs. ‘Voices and lessons’ is a qualitative report that looks into the experience of five young people aged 16-18 from racially minoritised communities and had come into contact with the criminal justice system while they were in care.
Read more here: https://howardleague.org/news/howard-league-project-reveals-harmful-impact-of-remanding-children-to-prison/
Werrington Prison Inspection Report
A damming 69-page report on Werrington children’s prison was released on 20 May. The report found that violence and use of force was higher than any prison in the UK with 30 children being admitted to hospital in the six months leading up to the inspection. Over the past 12 months 400 weapons have been seized, with children stating that they needed to protect themselves as they didn’t trust the staff to do it.
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