2nd Chance Ashfield 'where our story began'

Our Managing Director and founder of the 2nd chance Project, James Mapstone was formerly the Physical Education Manager at HMP & YOI Ashfield, a Serco ran establishment in Pucklechurch, Bristol.  James and his department were passionate about how the power of sport could reduce re-offending and how in partnership with the community we could really make an impact on young lives. They set about developing an initaitve to do just that and in 2007 Ashfield saw the creation of the Ashfield College Sports Academy and a whole host of community partnerships that worked together reguarly engaging young offenders 15 - 18 years old in Ashfield. Word soon spread about the initative and it attracted a range of visitors which led us (through the BBC Your Game team) to the Football Foundation (FF). They were intreagued by the project we worked hard with FF South West Manager Kevin McPherson who gave us the much needed support

In 2008 we successfully received our first ever funding grant of £282,071 to develop the initiative as a project. Then the 2nd Chance Project Community Interest Company was born and we started project delivery in July 2008.

The 2nd Chance Project aims to engage young offenders in custody aged 15 - 18 in HMP & YOI Ashfield. By using positive community role models we are able to build up the levels of trust and mutual respect, so that alternative lifestyles can be introduced though structured programmes of education and training.

We have just finished end of year two and the project has developed a great amount in the past two years. We are proud of our Award winning partnership with Serco (HMP & YOI Ashfield) and together have developed the intiative at Ashfield further.  In partnership the project provides a range of engagement levels for young people in Ashfield from sports coaching sessions, sports leadership awards to sports coaching awards. There are opportunties for peer coaching both internally and externally. Carefully selected young people, who at are close to release, will work within the local community and support initatives targeting other young people considered 'at risk' of entering the criminal justice system in partnerhsip with local sports clubs, schools and Avon and somerset Constabulary.

Over the past year 157 young people have been egaged through the project either by a community coach or a member of the 2nd Chance Team. We have delivered a large number of qualifications and made a great impact on many young lives. As a small project we havent the abaility to track all 157 and many have been transferred, released only after a short period with the project.

Those that we are currently supporting post custody and still tracking since July 2008 are a total of 20 Young People.

Out of the 20 young people only 5 have returned to custody and only 2 because they have re-offended. 3 young people failed to comply with their licence conditions but HAVE NOT re-offended. One of the 3 breached cases is going through an appeal and has the support from the Howard League due to his exceptional progress and benefit to the community.

Going by these figures are success rates at the end of year 2 are:

- 90% success rate of young people not re-offending

- 75% succes rate of young people not returning to custody

Of the 5 young people that returned to custody , 4 had severe housing / accommadation issues and no direct or stable family support around them on release.