the fund in action
The Fund makes grants to ex-offenders released from prison or on licence with the intention of relieving hardship, aiding rehabilitation and helping families stay together. It also makes grants to the families of serving prisoners to help them lead a more normal life.
The Fund makes its grants with regard only to the needs of the individual and his or her dependants irrespective of age, gender, race or offence. All grants are made on the recommendation of a probation officer or a social welfare officer and the agency ensures the money is spent for the purpose granted.
Examples of grants in the recent past are:
VOCATIONAL COURSES
The absence of any qualification is a significant problem for many ex-offenders seeking employment and is a frequent reason for a return to crime. The Fund gives grants to enable ex-offenders to undertake appropriate vocational courses
A young man had some experience as a painter and decorator but was having difficulty finding work. The fork lift course paid for by the Fund helped him to change jobs and he now works in a warehouse
A male ex-offender was unqualified and had been floating round on a building site as a casual labourer. Thanks to the fund he is now a qualified tower crane driver in regular employment.
TOOLS OF TRADE
The lack of appropriate tools is often a barrier to ex-offenders taking up employment and there is no provision for this from the state. The fund has long provided grants for this purpose.
A young male alcoholic was on probation for drink-fuelled violence. He successfully gave up drinking and wanted to start a window cleaning business. The fund gave him a grant to buy the necessary equipment. He is still sober and runs a successful business.
Grants for tools enabled two young men to resume their jobs as electricians mate and plasterer respectively.
CLOTHING
The Fund gives grants for clothing and footwear which assist their recipients in obtaining work and the rehabilitation back into society.
A young man had been taking drugs for many years in and out of prison. He had the opportunity to go to rehab but had only the clothes he stood up in. He felt inferior. The Fund gave him a grant for clothes and he felt he was on the road to recovery. He completed the full three months of the programme.
A young woman had been in treatment for six months. She had two children and had had a very difficult childhood. When her grandmother died she was able to buy a suit and shoes for the funeral as well as everyday wear. It was an external indication of what tremendous progress she was making in her life and empowered her to join in a family event.
ELECTRICAL GOODS
The fund gives grants for electrical goods - such as cookers and fridge-freezers, which enable individuals and their family to feed themselves despite very restricted incomes.
A man was looking after three children on his own. He was in desperate need of a cooker but a community care grant would have taken ages. Once the Fund gave him the cooker he could manage his family budget. It saved him from horrendous debt.
A male ex- prisoner was in shared hostel accommodation. He used to buy his food and put it in the communal fridge but other residents were stealing it. He started keeping it in his room but it was summertime and the food was going off. The fund gave him a tiny fridge so he could store his essential supplies and keep within his tight budget.
FURNITURE
The fund gives grants for furniture which is a vital necessity when setting up home on a restricted budget.
A young woman was desperate to regain custody of her two children. She had received a state grant for a bed for herself but had nowhere for her children to sleep. The Fund provided bunk beds for the children, and also purchased a TV licence to enable the children to enjoy television. The family was re-united.
PRISONERS' FAMILIES
The Fund has always recognised that the families of serving prisoners are often innocent victims of another’s offences.
Last summer the fund paid for a group of prisoners’ children to have a short holiday at Pontins to enable them to enjoy a summer break.