A look at 2nd Chance's support with The Prince’s Trust Project in HMP & YOI Ashfield,and how the seamless transition from Custody to Community is affecting young lives and creating life long change.

9 ASDAN Bronze Awards and 3 Gold Awards have been achieved by the young people, something that has never been done before in custody until now. Not only have these qualifications been completed, but all nine young people have directly gained a mentor for release (Prince’s Trust, St Giles Trust and 2nd Chance Project mentoring services). Following release three have work placements (inclusive of an apprenticeship for one), and six others have been supported towards locating and applying for college placements. For these young people the journey has begun, and the network of support surrounding all of these young people from this programme has opened the door for life long change.

In HMP & YOI Ashfield young people have the opportunity to attend the Prince’s Trust xl Programme and the Team Challenge Programme. Both offer the opportunity to explore what it’s like to be a part of a Team and offers the chance to attend a Residential Trip that creates the chance to learn in a new and stimulating environment that has only ever been dreamed of by Young People in their position. The funding for this venture comes from the NORDA Trust (www.thenordatrust.org.uk) and we are all very grateful towards this very kind gesture as without the NORDA Trust this would not be possible. The course runs over 12 weeks and for the Gold Award an extension of 12 weeks for personal development is put in place. All young people have a record of attending 100% of the sessions held in custody and six of the nine young people were able to attend the residential stay at the Prince’s Trust’s Pembrokeshire Activity Centre.

What does The 2nd Chance Project offer the Project?   We have a full time Member of our Senior Management Team, Justin Coleman that has designed the Team Challenge programme (Funded by www.serco.com) and delivers the course during the evenings with the Education Team in Ashfield (Namely Jon Wood, Teacher in Ashfield).  Jon Wood covers the educational remit within the Team and Justin Coleman from the 2nd Chance Team focuses on the resettlement and employment options for release. This Team is set to expand during 2010 and become intensely structured with a firm ethos of the team becoming a family of support to all on the course with two of the Education Departments masterminds Neil Payne and Marcel Celtel. We have already won two National recognition awards for this course one through the Butler Trust that support us and wish to disseminate our work for others to understand and help influence their future programmes in the Criminal Justice setting. Watch this space for the future developments for young people.

The credit for these awards goes to the young people that have completed their qualification and inspired trust and belief in the staff team that have created the chance for opportunities from release. The key message of Dedication and Commitment = a Team, is the drive provided by young people that want to change their lives for the better. Click here for a downloadable PDF containing further details on this programme offered within custody, vist the Butler Trust site or contact the 2nd Chance Project directly.

Posted: 03.12.09 11:51