Leaving Crime – Shoreditch
Why?
Women coming out of prison experience culture shock in relation to issues of day-to-day living such as paying bills or doing laundry. One beneficiary said she felt that some girls were re-offending so they could go back to the familiarity of prison life. She explained that while in prison there were few decisions to make and that it was therefore difficult to cope with the responsibilities of daily life when released. Another barrier to starting a new life is that benefits need to be applied for and may take a while to come through. Similar issues also occur surrounding housing. Many of the women also have children in care, and may want to start the process of regaining responsibility for them but cannot do so without access to stable jobs and accommodation.
How?
Andrew Sanalitro, manager of the project, highlighted that this is the only contact for the East Sutton Park Prison in London. Having prior links with the prison meant that the project is able to provide a programme that can work with women before, as well as after their release. The programme provides support for the women concerned, as they make the transition back into society. One of the women currently part of the programme is on a week’s release soon, and will spend this week working at the Tab centre where Leaving Crime is based. As well as working with the women in this way, the project helps with the necessities such as helping pay for transport, allowing the women to use the kitchen at the Tab centre to keep the costs of healthy-eating down, and enabling the women to apply for jobs through use of the centre’s address.
Outcomes
Three women helped by the project are now employed. One of the women stated that she didn’t know where she’d be if it weren’t for Leaving Crime. As a result of her experiences she has become an ambassador to other women who are in a similar situation.
Next Steps
The project is currently managed by the manager of the Tab Centre. He hopes to seek funding to enable him to employ a manager specifically dedicated to the Leaving Crime project.