Reducing Offending, Social Exclusion & 'Skillessness' - Over 11 Years of Political Statements and Policies

Use these links to see how the main Political Parties propose to address social exclusion, skillessness and offending -

Conservative Party - click here

Labour Party - click here

Liberal Democrat Party - -click here

Use this link to see what they say in Parliament about reducing social exclusion and re-offending click here

PDF The Economic case for and against prison. The aim of this research was to collect the evidence needed to outline the economic argument for and against prison sentences and their alternatives. The research focuses on how effective a prison sentence is in reducing re-offending, compared with non-prison approaches and asks are prison sentences a cost-beneficial way of reducing offending in those populations who are at risk of further offending?

The research was undertaken in 2007 by Matrix Knowledge Group and commissioned by three charitable foundations, the Monument Trust, the LankellyChase Foundation and the Bromley Trust.

PDF Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment - In December 2005, the Government set out its strategy for improving skills and employment outcomes for offenders, in the Green Paper Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment. The strategy placed the reduction of re-offending - alongside protecting the public - at the heart of the work of prisons and probation services, with a new focus on training offenders and helping them get jobs. This area of activity had been low profile, and the Green Paper set out an ambitious plan of reform.

The Government's approach to reducing re-offending has at its heart the need to protect citizens from crime, and to take action against those who break the law. Those who commit crime must expect to be punished, with sentences robustly and efficiently enforced. But punishment and deterrence alone are not enough: we can also protect the public by helping offenders become more productive members of society. Life Change UK's programme is specifically aimed at enabling and improving practice.

PDF Public Protection or Public Delusion. In her appoitnment as the North East Regional Offender Manager, Mitch Egan explores some of the issues surrounding the use of prison and the role of communities in reducing re-offending.

PDF Lord Carter's Review of Prisons Lord Carter sets out his reasoning and conclusions for increasing the size of the prison estate in England and Wales, including the use of large Titan style establishments. Manning such establishments with appropriately trained staff is likely to be problematical.

Article Focussing on Health to reduce re-offending. Justice Minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath has called on criminal justice professionals and health experts to work closely together to develop safer communities by tackling offenders' health problems early to reduce crime.

PDF QIA Offender Learning Research The QIA's research into offender learning in prisons and the community has highlighted numerous issues requiring urgent action, not least the need for appropriate skills training for managers, leaders and all those involved in promoting change in offender learning and behaviour.

The conclusions of this report can be closely aligned with the Further Education National Training Organisation research into the Delivery of Learning to Promote Social Inclusion - see below.

PDF Delivering Learning to Promote Social Inclusion In the first three months of 2001, the Further Education National Training Organisation carried out research into the practitioner issues relating to social inclusion. The research was conducted by means of structured and semistructured face-to-face and telephone interviews with managers in colleges in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It took account of national differences and invited responses from all further education colleges in the United Kingdom. A range of good and innovative practice to meet the needs of excluded learners from differing backgrounds was identified and is described in the case studies. Critically, the report highlighted the need for staff training in order to meet the demands of associated learners.

PDF 'Developing qualifications for teachers, tutors and trainers in the lifelong learning sector in England' Research by Dr Caroline Hudson, on behalf of QIA, highlights that in order to achieve such provision there is a need to contextualise the revised teaching qualifications to meet the needs of staff working with offender assessment, learning and training. The revised teaching qualifications offer a range of opportunities for the development of staff involved in such work. The framework 'Developing qualifications for teachers, tutors and trainers in the lifelong learning sector in England' PDF describes the introduction of qualifications that recognise the learners needs and therefore the associated delivery. The Life Change UK training is specifically aimed at assisting with this process and is quoted by Dr Hudson in her report.

PDF Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) The introduction and focus upon LSPs will serve to increase work with marginalsied groups, promoting joined up capacity in the delivery of skills training and support.

PDF The National Reducing Re-offending Delivery Plan - The Government has repeated its commitment to reducing re-offending, acknowledging that fewer offenders mean fewer victims, and safer communities. The plan describes how ex-offenders are drawn disproportionately from the most socially excluded groups in society. By tackling the educational, housing and health inequalities they suffer from, they can be helped to re-establish themselves, quickly becoming net contributors to society.

PDF Breakdown Britain - The Centre for Social Justice spells out the social crises facing Britain, further demonstrating the need to provide more effective intervention and training.

PDF Green Paper - Reducing Re-offending This paper further demonstrates the continuing need to enable offenders to gain skills and access employment. As part of that process there is a fundamental need to increase the levels of offender self-efficacy and motivation. The Life Change UK programme is designed to enable more people to undertake such work more effectively.

PDFNational Offender Management Service Action Plan The NOMS action plan promotes increasing partnerships between public and voluntary sector organisations. As part of that process it is essentail that there is a common understanding and approach to the work. The Life Change UK programme is designed to assist in facilitating this requirement.

PDF Are prison sentences a cost-beneficial way of reducing offending in those populations who are at risk of further offending? This research focuses only on how effective a prison sentence is in reducing re-offending, compared with non-prison approaches.

The research was undertaken in 2007 by Matrix Knowledge Group and commissioned by three charitable foundations, the Monument Trust, the LankellyChase Foundation and the Bromley Trust.

PDF Social Exclusion Unit report - Reducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners The 2002 Social Exclusion Report, Reducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners, clearly laid out the wide arange of associated issues and offender needs. Many of the points raised servce to re-enforce the value of Life Change UK's training.

PDF The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in NOMS Designed as a consultation process, a report "Enhancing the role of the Voluntary and Community Sector with A Case Study of the Yorkshire and Humber Region" was prepared by Sheffield Hallam University and examined the existing and potential relationship between NOMS and voluntary organisations. The report saw differing responses and opinions.

PDF Young Adults with Complex Needs This is another excellent report by the Social Exclusion Unit that yet again re-enforces the need for programmes of training such as that provided by Life Change UK.

Link South West Probation Regional Alliance In December 2006, the five Probation Areas (Services) in the SW agreed a regional approach to develop consistency in the way they intended to work with community based organisations, whether they be from the Voluntary or Private sector.

The website process provided an opportunity for potential providers to identify themselves, and provide South West Probation Areas with a better understanding of what those organisations could offer in relation to delivering a range of services to offenders.

The aim was also for those organisations registering to gain a better understanding of the approach being taken by the five South West Probation Areas and to get a sense of the range and type of work which may be subject to sub-contracting over the next twelve months and beyond. The feedback that has been obtained through the website process will influence the decision-making by South West Probation Areas in relation to the implementation of their sub-contracting plans.