INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT

Over the years the Fund has regularly gathered anecdotal evidence that its grants make a real difference to their recipient’s lives. In spring 2007 the trustees (supported by a grant from the Mercers Company) commissioned an independent assessment of the Fund's work. A specialist researcher sent questionnaires to Probation Officers and beneficiaries of the Fund and followed up a proportion of these with telephone interviews.

“The evaluation clearly found that the Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s Fund is providing an extremely valuable and effective service.”

Over 90% of probation officers and offenders felt the grants by the Fund made an immediate difference through:

Enabling ex-offenders to increase their skills through funding vocational courses to help them find work.
Improving well-being - both by addressing obvious needs (no bed, no water-tight shoes, no warm clothing) and by helping to balance tight budgets (a cooker avoids expensive eating in cafes).
Enhancing self-esteem. Clothing that fits and is fit for purpose makes individuals feel better about themselves and more confident.
Improving standard of living. Ex-offenders are usually very short of money on release and the grants help them re-establish themselves.

Over 90% of probation officers and over 75% of offenders felt the grants made a difference in the long term through:

Finding employment. The provision of training, tools and clothing help in different ways to find worthwhile employment.
Having somewhere to live. Grants for furniture and electrical goods enable independent living.
Building a stable lifestyle. The grants enable ex-offenders to avoid debt, manage very tight budgets and to attend rehabilitation programmes to address substance abuse.
Reducing the risk of reoffending. The grants show that someone cares, providing a motivation for change and a demonstration there is an alternative way to obtaining necessities.
Contributing to social inclusion. The grants show offenders that they are valued and accepted by society.

“A lot of little things put together actually make something quite significant” - Probation officer.

The assessment also found that the Fund was highly effective in:

Meeting ex offenders most urgent and appropriate needs.
Reaching those who need it most.
Providing grants that are enough to make a difference
Not duplicating other provision
Accepting a wide range of different needs.
Delivering grants with simple application procedures, an appropriate speed of response and with a fair system of allocation.
Having a sympathetic understanding of the needs of ex-offenders.

The assessor concluded that this evaluation has confirmed that the aims and objectives of the Fund are being met in an effective and compassionate way. The Fund appears to provide offenders with the means to address their immediate needs which often makes a difference to their lives in the long term.

The conclusions of this evaluation are that:

The Fund provides an extremely valuable service which meets the needs of offenders seeking to rebuild their lives.
It provides its service in an efficient sensitive and timely manner.
It is highly valued by offenders and probation officer.
It clearly makes a real difference.