Peer support and guidance for prisoners from exoffenders

Peer support and guidance for prisoners from ex-offenders Georgina Earthy/David Jolie St Giles Trust

Introduction § § § St Giles Trust - background Peer Mentoring scheme - development and training Personal experiences of a Peer Advisor Group discussion Questions and Answers

St Giles Trust § Medium sized voluntary organisation staff of just over 100 § Based in Camberwell South London with offices and projects in the South East, Eastern Region and the South West § Disadvantaged homeless, offenders and ex offenders

Peer Mentoring • ‘After school I chose the wrong path, this qualification has given me the chance to develop my ability to help people. I feel I’ve gained something really positive out of a bad situation and it’s given me a clear career goal’. Peer Mentor Aug 05

Peer Mentoring • Started in HMP Wandsworth in 2002 • Now delivered in 17 prisons in London, South East, Eastern Region and South West • 270 Peer Mentors have been trained since start of scheme

Recruitment/Course Content • Formal recruitment process • Ten module underpinning course • Confidentiality, communications, assessment, referral and record keeping • Speakers from outside agencies • Specialist training eg housing from Shelter • Portfolio building and assessment in workplace

David Jolie: Peer Advisor • Personal History • Training and Qualification – NVQ Level 3 advice and guidance – Vocational equivalent of 2 A levels – Generic, vocational and nationally recognise

David Jolie: Peer Advisor • Role of Peer Advisors in Prison – Induction – Housing advice – Employment, training and education advice – Family liaison – Referrals: e. g. drug mentors, hostels, Nacro – General advisors • Upon Release – Further training – 5 months voluntary placement – Recruited onto Straight to Work Project

What next for Peer Advisors? • • Further education or volunteering at St Giles Trust Apply for Straight to Work Project Employment with external advice agencies Employment in other vocational areas

Straight To Work • • History: Winner of Andy Ludlow Award 2007 Funded by the Oak Foundation for three years Project Description: Straight to Work/Meet at Gates Job Brokerage

David Jolie: case study/typical day • Service Users • Meet at Gates • One day accompaniment e. g. to hostel/probation previously arranged • Longer resettlement casework provided by Straight to Work caseworkers

Group Discussions • SWOT analysis of peer advice model – Group 1: Strengths and weaknesses of peer advice – Group 2: opportunities and threats of peer advice

Some statistics from the Kent scheme • 63 people have received the full award • 29 have left prison • Of those who have left 25 have jobs and one is volunteering • The rest are still serving time, many of them working as advisers across the prison estate

New Developments and Hopes • Now able to offer the NVQ Advice and Guidance in the community to ex offenders and people serving community sentences • Train up prisoners to be assessors • Secure more long term funding in order to stabilise delivery across prison estate

Contact Details • • Georgina Earthy/David Jolie 64 -68 Camberwell Church St London SE 5 8 JB Tel: 0208 703 7000 • Georgina. earthy@stgilestrust. org. uk • David. jolie@stgilestrust. org. uk • www. stgilestrust. org. uk