Memorandum submitted by Rathbone
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
— Evidence gathered by Rathbone highlights
the vital importance of providing education and training support
opportunities for young offenders in the transition from the secure
estate to the community.
— Rathbone understands that the majority
of LSC (OLASS) contracts have been awarded to Further Education
colleges and other organisations that may be unable to provide
adequate offender support in the transition from the secure estate
to release into the community. The contractual process should
prioritise partnership working, allowing organisations such as
Rathbone to work with FE colleges and other organisations. This
way we can ensure continuity of successful delivery and minimise
wasted resources.
INTRODUCTION TO
RATHBONE
Rathbone is a national education and training
charity engaging with over 12,000 children and young adults, focusing
predominantly on those aged 14-24. Our work also includes supporting
young people who have offended or are at high risk of offending.
We believe that every young person has the ability to learn, to
make progress and to achieve, no matter what their background.
Rathbone has a successful history of working
with the Youth Justice Board, Probation Services and Prison establishments.
Our staff have been at the forefront of innovative initiatives
to encourage young people who are not in education, employment
or training to recommit to positive activities.
Seven out of 10 of those with whom we work progress
into positive further training or education outcomes.
FACTUAL INFORMATION
Rathbone has successfully delivered a broad
range of transitional programmes to support young people during
their time in prison and on their return to the community, helping
to break the cycle of re-offending through training and education.
We have gained considerable experience and expertise
in working with young offenders through the delivery of two national
resettlement initiatives: the "Entry to Employment (E2E)
Young Offender Pilot" and our "Through the Gate"
project. We have also gained valuable experience with our Mentoring
Scheme, and Prove It projects:
— Resettlement: the National Entry
to Employment Young Offender Pilot and the OLASS "Through
the Gate Resettlement Project" were evaluated by The Youth
Justice Trust, who concluded that Rathbone has an effective, robust
and portable model which delivers key outcomes. Success rates
for moving young offenders from Young Offender Institutions (YOIs)
into employment, training or education are between 40% and 60%.
— Our Mentoring Scheme model started
in Manchester as a pilot and the contract has been extended as
a result of its success. Initial results demonstrate a 50% reduction
in breaches of supervision orders, ASBOs (Anti Social Behaviour
Orders) and ABCs (Acceptable Behaviour Contracts).
— The Prove It model was successfully
piloted in Manchester and has been replicated to local requirements
in Sheffield and Doncaster. Success rates for young offenders
in the community moving into employment, training or education
are 80%.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
ACTION
Evidence gathered by Rathbone has highlighted
that:
1. It is vital to recognise the importance
of providing education and training support opportunities for
young offenders in the transition from the secure estate to the
community. Evidence gathered by Rathbone suggests that those who
do not receive transitional support are far less likely to progress
into positive education, employment and training outcomes after
their release.
2. Voluntary sector organisations like Rathbone
should be considered in the contractual process in partnership
with Further Education colleges and other organisations in order
to deliver prison education in a more holistic way.
DEVELOPMENTS IN
PRISON EDUCATION
SINCE MARCH
2005
1. Rathbone has successfully delivered education
and training opportunities to young people aged 16 and over both
within the secure estate and in the community. A key strength
of our approach is that we link these two elements together, managing
the transition between custody and the immediate three month period
after release.
2. As part of the Learning Alliance with
Nacro, YMCA and CSV, Rathbone delivered the National Entry to
Employment (E2E) Young Offender Pilot. This pilot involved engaging
with young people in Young Offending Institutions (YOIs) and providing
continuing support after their release.
3. An evaluation of this pilot, undertaken
by the Youth Justice Trust, found that 60% of the young offenders
supported by Rathbone one month prior to their release progressed
into E2E placements. Crucially, of this group, 73% remained
in E2E placements 12 weeks after their release.
4. We believe this pilot highlights the
importance of providing support and maintaining contact with young
offenders upon their release (in the case of this pilot, up to
three months after release). Significantly, those who did not
receive this transitional support were far less likely to progress
into positive outcomes.
5. Rathbone's "Through the Gate"
pilot in London, working with Feltham, Warren Hill and Huntercoombe
YOIs, has also been successful, although the results were less
pronounced. Frustratingly the success of the project may have
been limited by the availability of only six months funding from
LSC (OLASS), which caused difficulties in terms of staffing and
recruitment.
6. Rathbone understands that the majority
of new LSC (OLASS) contracts have been awarded to FE colleges
and other organisations that may be unable to provide adequate
offender support in the transition from the secure estate to release
into the community, without partnerships with voluntary organisations
such as Rathbone.
7. The contracts awarded by the LSC (OLASS)
were disadvantageous to the voluntary sector. The contractual
process should prioritise partnership working, allowing organisations
such as Rathbone to work with FE colleges and other organisations.
This way we can ensure continuity of successful delivery and minimise
wasted resources.
8. We believe the real challenge for prison
education is to secure the provision of effective, joined-up services.
Rathbone would like to see a greater commitment to the voluntary
sector through longer term funding streams, partnerships, and
a commitment to supporting models which have been proven to work.
December 2006
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