Offering support to care leavers
Prisons Minister Andrew Selous visited Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire to witness first hand the support provided to offenders who are care leavers.
Mr Selous saw the rehabilitative work taking place in the prison’s workshops and education classes, before talking with the 18- to 25-year-olds about a self-help group provided through the Care Leavers Association to mark National Care Leavers’ Week last week.
Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said:
We are keen to be able to provide a range of practical and emotional support for care leavers, and I’m pleased to see how well this new group is performing in Swinfen Hall.
Offenders can often feel isolated and unsure of how to make practical arrangements for when they are released, but through this support group we are helping to provide these young men with valuable resettlement links that will help them through the gate into the community, and reduce their risk of reoffending.
The group at Swinfen Hall is aimed at giving support to the young men both in custody and on release, and is the fourth across the prison estate that is run in association with the Care Leavers Association.
Mr Selous was one of a number of ministers from across Whitehall to shadow care leavers this week to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by these young people.