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 Camberwell Church St London SE5 8JB Tel: