Out4Good Project

Description of the project:

Out4Good is lead by Project leader Jeannette Hewes who brings a wealth of expertise and experience from her involvement with youth people at risk and continues to move the organisation forward. She is supported by Project worker Steve Lawton in the task.

O4G began with the support of a local church, DNA Networks. A house was provided by a church member offering accommodation to two young men.

Individual young men were referred to the project for mentoring support. 

Referrals have come from: Essex Police Keep Team, Prison Chaplaincies, Youth Offending Team, local churches, self-referrals and Probation Service Offender managers.

 O4G provides a sharp and challenging picture of how young people who are 'ex-offenders' might be enabled to make the crucial transition from prison and incarceration to a full and meaningful life back in the community. At very low cost O4G is effectively beginning to show that the three crucial 'pillars' to successful community rehabilitation are; somewhere to live, a job and a mentor. O4G is also showing, in a some way, that Christians can make a meaningful and professional contribution in the complex arena of youth justice.

O4G has developed a  model that is localized and based on service user needs analysis, with stated goals of:
• meeting offenders, including whilst they are in prison,
• assisting them in finding suitable accommodation upon release
• seeking with them; work, volunteering, life skills, and training opportunities

The direct beneficiaries of the project are the young men who have been, or who are at risk of, receiving custodial sentences. They are mainly in the 18-25 age range and come from a mix of ethnic backgrounds. Most of them appear to have addiction and relationship issues, poor levels of educational achievement and histories of dysfunctional lives. Some of them are persistent and prolific offenders and many of them appear to have fallen through the net of normal social welfare provisions. 

O4G has sponsored many purposeful activities for the lads involved, these include, canoeing, power boating, sailing, fishing, cooking, reading, football, cricket, art, and direct work experience with local self employed business men.

Type of FYT involvement:

Partnership

Description of FYT's involvement:

FYT runs this project in conjunction with DNA Networks Colchester.

Who's it for?

Young offenders/young adult offenders seeking support inside and outside YOI or Prison, referrals accepted from:
Probation Service Offender Managers
Prison Chaplains
Community Chaplains
Social Workers
Youth Workers
YOT teams
Any other concerned individual/family member

Where's it based?

Colchester Essex. Contact - Project Leader Jeannette Hewes: 07817760176, Email: Jeannette.hewes@fyt.org.uk Project worker - Steve Lawton: 07792298443 Email: steve.lawton@fyt.org.uk

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