Women can access our services through self-referral or agency-referral
REBUILD & RECONNECT
Ethnic minority women who experience the criminal justice system are affected by multiple disadvantages and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, and religion, more than often they are on their own when trying to restart their lives.
Negative experiences such as stereotyping, and discrimination can damage their self-identity and inhibit engagement with their resettlement. Upon release one of the first questions that may come up during their
re-entry process into the community, “Where do I start?” feeling extremely vulnerable in their own communities, it is crucial to listen to their experiences and support them.
HOW WE HELP
Reconnect and Rebuild resettlement programme is holistically designed to deliver high value, customized services and support for women who have been offended and who wish to stop.
We provide advice, guidance, signposting, counselling and skills development training leading to achieving sustainable changes in income through employment or business start-ups.
We support them to develop positive identity, self-belief, and people skills helping them to build good personal and community relationships.
Given the social stigma and other sensitivities surrounding Asian women and criminality, we identified a gap for lack of support and profound racial disparities in opportunity that exists in our society for Asian women leaving prison.
"Reconnect & Rebuild" project was initiated to overcome these barriers and to create pathways for women to reclaim their lives, and re-join their families and their communities.
Through Reconnect & Rebuild, we hope to provide measures of help to those looking to return to and rebuild their lives.
Reconnect & Rebuild programme supports and addresses the often overlooked interconnected issues of faith, ethnicity, and gender, as well as dishonour, shame, disownment, stereotyping and lack of family and community support upon release.
OUR PROGRAMME
Our support programmes, along with follow-on support create an ecosystem of opportunities including access to housing, mental health care, family services, job training, and community connection as well as:
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One-2-One sessions to establish their needs upon release.
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Help so they can build self-confidence and self-esteem which focuses on personal development.
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How they can overcome cultural barriers when faced with family and the wider community.
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How they can access services which often they are unable to, due to "shame".
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What can be done to stop them from re-offending?
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Providing a platform to learn new skills and to become financially independent and stable though employment and self-employment opportunities.
We provide a central hub of resources and information helping women to navigate life on the outside.
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Job Training - Find programmes that provide education and job skills they need to return to work and access employment and self-employment opportunities.
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Housing and Social benefits - Applying for benefits, getting information on housing, and rehab centres that are open to formerly incarcerated people.
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Education - Accessing adult education classes and courses.
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Mental Health - Locate clinics, hospitals, and treatment centres that provide mental health services, one-to-one confidence building and mentoring.
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Food - Find free and affordable food and food banks.
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Debt management - Financial understanding and avoiding debts.
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Addiction Services - Search addiction treatment centres and support groups in the area.
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Legal Aid - Get affordable or free legal advice.
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Family - Facilitation of family connection and supervised contact with children.
Women Centre Fundraising Appeal
We are looking to raise £20,000 to complete a pilot programme to create a safe place for women to heal and rebuild their lives after leaving prison.
Join us in our effort to raise awareness to change perceptions and reduce the stigma of imprisonment that follows women for a lifetime
We want to conduct cohorts every quarter and grow our network of employer partners, and volunteers for employment readiness and life skills workshops - working to realise our vision of a world where a woman’s past does not determine her future.