Upload
georgina-mcgee
View
212
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
sodexo.com
HMP Forest Bank
Category B
Male only from 18
1400 residents
Remand and Sentenced
Partnership agreement with the Co-operative Bank signed March 2006 BANKING ON A FRESH START LAUNCHED May 2006
page 2
Bank Accounts Prior To Release
90% have no relevant ID. 75% poorly educated. Difficulty accessing services. 9 % can’t read or write. 70% fear forms and bureaucracy. Some loose their bank account on entering the prison. Any effective resettlement hampered by lack of a bank
account:
i. Excluded from Training Grants
ii. Excluded from Further and higher education grants
iii. Housing made difficult
iv. Employment made difficult
page 3
Northern Rock Arrangement
Application form
Copy of prison ID + covering letter
£1 cheque
Problems
Deposit was problematic
Prisoners had to attend branch on release to register
No continuity – when personnel changed had to start from scratch
page 4
INITIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CFS
Regular telephone calls Meeting with Community Projects Manager Various departmental meetings at CFS head office Scheme tailored to prison needs
- Zero balance/opened prior to release/no input from prisoner required
Scheme integrated into bank main computer – gives continuity (05/06)
Pilot scheme started May 2006
page 5
Why Did CFS Proceed To A Pilot
History of Community links eg Big Issue Project prior to 2005
Positively motivated to help financially excluded minorities (cashminder offered to asylum seekers)
Currently involved in arts partnership with North West prisons
Investigating new ways of reaching potential customers
Genuine interest in rehabilitation of offenders and research of potential impact
Quote
“Crime reduction and the prevention of re-offending is one of the 3 key themes of the CFS Community Strategy – the provision of bank accounts which will improve access to employment and housing is, therefore, a key element of this strategy”
Source: Community Partnership Agreement between CFS and HMP Forest Bank (March 06)
page 6
page 7
Motivating Participants
Given info on arrival during induction. Run regular budgeting courses which contain a banking unit. Pre-release induction give info again. Chapel runs prisoner/partner finance course. Staff fully informed during training. Dedicated banking lead. Probation/OMU/Programmes staff fully informed. Prisoner word of mouth. Peer pressure.
page 8
Impact on capacity For Independence
Makes life easier in general –
i. Receive benefits
ii. Receive grants
iii. Pay rent by D/D
iv. Pay wages in
Helps in managing money – no need to carry cash
Increases confidence
Psychological impact – feel part of mainsteam society.
page 9
SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT
Measures of success
06 – 10 (August)
Applications 1313
Accounts Opened 1210
Refused 70
1000th account reached April 2010
29 prisons included in scheme