Crime chief checks how charity helps out offenders
STUART PIKE
MAUNDY Relief received a visit from Lancashire’s police chief as he found out how they are working to help reduce reoffending.
The Accrington charity’s ‘Support for Offenders’ project is targeted at helping to divert offenders from a life of crime.
Clive Grunshaw, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has allocated £77,899 from the Reducing Reoffending Fund to a further five projects. Maundy Relief received £22,382 from a previous round earlier in the financial year at which £197,562 was given out.
Their project listens to offenders and works with them, utilising a trauma informed approach and providing a supportive environment to start moving away from offending behaviour and the many factors that can cause people to reoffend.
Referrals will also be made to further support wherever appropriate, for example to counselling, supported accommodation services, benefits advice, volunteering, and life skills projects.
The PCC talked to the dedicated staff supporting people across all the work done through Maundy Relief, including offenders, and heard from service users about how they are being helped to stay away from a life of crime.
He said: “It’s great to have the opportunity to visit the fantastic projects that my Reducing Reoffending Fund has supported. It’s clear to see the positive impact that they make.
“Policing alone cannot prevent people reoffending and that is why I continue to support initiatives that break the cycle offenders all too often find themselves trapped in.”
Maundy Relief manager Lucy Hardwick said: “We are delighted and grateful to have been given this opportunity to enhance our support to people who want to turn their lives around following involvement with the criminal justice system.
“The project has got off to a great start and our ‘wrap around’ support model is working well.
“We are looking forward to working closely with the PCC as we develop our services in response to the needs of this group.”