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The Crossroads Chronicle March 2015
Family conference
Crossroads Trust Operations Manager, John Beesley and volunteer
Donna Edwards recently
represented the Trust at a conference in Liverpool. Facilitated
by No Offence and Providing
Support to Families of People with criminal convictions (POPS)
the theme of the day was
how to support the families of people with criminal convictions.
Crossroads Trust is keen to
explore setting up a new project to provide support for families
of people with criminal
convictions in prison as well as support when individuals are
released. This is in response to
a real need from working with service users.
The aim of the conference was to consider the Troubled Families
Programme. This is now in
its second phase and support will be extended to families with a
parent in prison and on
community orders. Not all families will meet the Troubled
Families criteria but never the
less they may require support as an integrated part of the
people with criminal convictions
journey through the criminal justice system to ensure the best
outcome for families.
Research shows that the role of the family can have a
significant impact on an offender and
their successful re-integration to the community and maintaining
positive and strong family
ties is one of the key factors in reducing re-offending.
Highlight of the programme were powerful testimonies from family
members with relatives
in prison. They highlighted the isolation they often felt,
judged by society and the prison
service as guilty by association. Feeling powerless to help
loved ones who were now part of
a totalitarian criminal justice system. Where families are often
disenfranchised by the
prison system. The message was clear the prison system needs to
do more to be family
friendly during visits and listen to families to make the
improvements needed.
Bulletins
Introduction to mentoring
individuals with convictions
The training session on the 7th of
March was a fantastic day. It was at
the CHESS centre in Camphill
Nuneaton and was facilitated by
Beverley Gilbert Lecturer NCSPVA
University of Worcester, Expert DV
Risk Assessor for DViP in London.
There were a few new volunteers
from crossroads trust as well as
people from an organisation called
Talent Match
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/talentmatch
And the feedback was great too
Its really helped me understand my clients. I cant wait to take
away what Ive learnt. Its opened my mind a lot more. 100% of people
would recommend this training session to a college
Crossroads Trust, Community House, Coleshill Road, Atherstone,
CV9 1BN
0333 772 0048 www.crossroadstrust.org.uk @CrossroadsTrust
Hi people if you have any stories or anything you think
might be relevant please email me on
[email protected]
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/talentmatchmailto:[email protected]
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Crossroads Trust Fitter Lives Project launched
The Crossroads Trust is launching a Fitter Lives Project on
Sunday April 12th 2pm at the Chess Centre on Camp Hill. The Project
will facilitate access to fitness activities for ex-offenders and
individuals with criminal convictions living on Camp Hill. But is
also open to all involved with Crossroads Trust. The Fitter Lives
Project has been funded by the Active 4 Life programme facilitated
by Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council. Evidence has shown that
the first few months after release from prison are the most
critical in the rehabilitation process. The risk of reoffending
remains high during this stage, so it is vital that appropriate
interventions are used to target the needs of individuals and keep
them on track. The Fitter Lives Project will be one such
intervention by allowing individuals free access to sporting
activities and help reduce the risk of social isolation by getting
involved. It will help maintain and develop fitness and help with
mental well being. This is particularly important when the client
is rehabilitating from substance misuse. Sessions will take place
every other week and refreshments will be provided. This is a free
service as access to facilities and equipment will be available to
use at no cost to the individual. April Sunday 12th and 26th 2-3pm
May Sunday 10th and 24th 2-3pm June Sunday 7th and 21st 2-3pm Many
of our service users are affected by a variety of issues including
a breakdown in family relationships, unemployment, social
exclusion, and health and housing issues. Crossroads through its
peer mentoring service helps them to develop personal and social
skills to boost their chance of leading independent lives. The
Fitter Lives Project will enable individuals with criminal
convictions struggling within the Camp Hill community to undertake
sporting activities free of charge as well as talk to our mentors.
We also encourage families and friends of those affected by
criminal convictions to get involved. It is all about healthy
exercise but most importantly having some fun. Volunteers
contribution and commitment is central to the work of Crossroads.
The service has achieved the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation
Approved Provider Standard. The Foundation found our volunteers to
be well trained, passionate and committed. Our mentors develop
caring, honest and safe relationships with individuals referred to
the service in order to empower their mentees and support positive
change. The mentoring service matches volunteer mentors and provide
support for up to twelve months. They often meet in informal
settings such as the community caf on Camp Hill or Nuneaton to
identify goals around five outcomes: improving emotional and
psychological well being, reducing risk, employability, access to
services, and improved financial situation. The mentoring
relationship focuses on empowering the mentee in taking steps to
achieve these goals. John Beesley Volunteer Operations Manager
Crossroads Trust Crossroads Trust Community House Coleshill Rd
Atherstone CV9 1BN www.crossroadstrust.org.uk Email
[email protected] Twitter @crossroadstrust.org.uk
John Beesley Operations Manager Tel 03337720048 or 07804236953
http://www.crossroadstrust.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]
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Clip project
The Trust is again appealing to the communities of North
Warwickshire to donate
good quality clothing and shoes to the Clothes Line Initiative
Project managed by
the Crossroads Trust. The Trust has a storage facility in
Atherstone from where
clothing items are dispatched to individuals in need throughout
the region. Every
donation helps to transform the lives of individuals who are in
need. Crossroads
works with individuals striving to turn their lives around to
lead positive law
abiding lives.
The Clothes Bank has also been providing items to other
disadvantaged groups
such as homeless individuals and young people leaving care homes
and setting up
home. Stock levels are now getting depleted the Trust is
requesting clothing and
shoes for men and women to be donated.
If you have a clothing or shoe donation the Trust can arrange to
collect directly
from your home or workplace. Email
[email protected] or call
Lucy 07835513192 or John 07804236953. Alternatively you can take
donated
items directly to Taverners Lane, Westwood Rd, Atherstone, CV9
2BA Monday to
Friday 10-4.30pm
Dyslexia friendly website
This has been achieved using a new Dyslexic font invented by a
Dutch designer,
Christian Boer. Having dyslexia himself he decided to make life
easier by
experimenting using different fonts for reading. Letters of the
Dyslexic font have
heavy base lines, alternating stick and tail lengths and
semi-cursive slants -- all
modifications that differentiate letters that can look
confusingly similar to those with
the condition. Research has shown the new font helps improve one
in five individuals
with the condition to read without difficulty.
Traditional fonts are designed solely from an aesthetic point of
view, which means
they often have characteristics that make characters difficult
to recognise for people
with dyslexia. The letters of a word are confused, turned around
or jumbled up
because they look too similar. The dyslexic friendly typeface
means individuals with
dyslexia have a lot less trouble reading.
www.crossroadstrust.org.uk
Loveable companions
Our little Dolli is nearly 7, we had
her as a rescue/rehome when she
very tiny.
Thankfully, we had a Shi Tzu
already and he loved her and
helped her fit right into our little
brood, our little chap sadly has
passed on, and so Dolli is even
more spoilt now? ... hmm is that
even possible?
New centre name
Now heres where you guys come in
I would like you to think of a name for our new centre and why
you think it would be a good name then email me at
[email protected] the winning idea will get a special
mention in Aprils edition
mailto:[email protected]://www.crossroadstrust.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]
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Thought of the month
Do not look at me like you know who I am, What struggles I carry
in my arms,
And the road I walk without a map.
Do not tell me that you know what you do not know, Nor
understand where I have been when you have not been there too.
Do not assume that you know what I think or feel or believe,
My mind and heart are not yours they are mine, Fear will not
overcome my silence.
Believe me, I will resist your biography of me,
Unless you help me and write a better story for us, You cannot
do that until you listen,
And walk in my shoes, if only for a mile or two, And let go of
what you think you know. I need your wisdom and compassion,
Your challenge and your honesty, I may not always welcome them
at first,
But I will if you care for me.
I have been beaten down and silenced. My heart has been
broken,
And it will not mend easily or without struggle, Be kind to me
and I will hear you,
Be strong and present and I will see you.
Look at me with open eyes and you will see me, Someone who has
survived unimaginable pain,
Who has found a way to still dance and love.
Despite walls and wire, When she cant go on anymore
When there is no one there
And that is who I am
York No Offence CIC conference
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the No Offence
conference in York,
titled Early Intervention in the CJS-The Women's Way. The
conference focused on
effective early intervention methods to reduce the number of
women in the
criminal justice system and also preventing the nature of
inter-generational
offending.
The criminal justice system has a basic principle that everyone
should be treated
equally. However, this does not necessarily mean that everyone
should be treated
the same. The underlying circumstances that may lead men and
women to offend
can be very different. There are particular issues that put
vulnerable women at
greater risk of committing crime including history of abusive
relationships,
substance misuse, mental health needs, poverty and social
inequalities that women
face. Many women already tend to have involvement with a great
number of
agencies before they commit crime. Gender specific women's
organisations have
demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing offending behaviour
amongst women
already in the criminal justice system and perhaps can be
essential in preventing
women and young girls committing offences in the first instance.
Early intervention
includes involvement at an early stage as well as an early
age.
Kristy O'Dowd
Anna Maxwell
the wife of a lifer