The Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire has awarded £5,000 to help rehabilitate offenders at Styal Prison.
John Dwyer, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire said, "Offenders who repeatedly commit crime create misery for many victims and damage the community where they commit their crimes. If we are to have safer, stronger communities, then we need to minimise re-offending and support offenders to help them to turn their lives around.
"One of the criteria for my Crime Prevention Fund was to tackle re-offending and I am committed to reducing the levels of re-offending and will continue to look into a variety of ways that this reduction can be achieved."
To tackle this issue the Commissioner has awarded £5,000 to the Sycamore Tree Programme which works with offenders at Styal Prison, helping them to change their attitudes when it comes to committing crime whilst bringing them face to face with victims.
The programme will also run in Risley and Thorn Cross prisons - The Sycamore Project has received a cash injection of £5,000 for each institute to help rehabilitate offenders.
The Sycamore Tree programme works with offenders, helping them to change their attitudes when it comes to committing crime whilst bringing them face to face with victims.
John Dwyer added "It's vital that we reduce re-offending. I think an effective way to do this is by bringing victims and offenders together through Restorative Justice like the Sycamore Tree programme, so offenders understand the catastrophic impact their actions have. I look forward to seeing the impact this project has on the lives of those involved."
The cost of reoffending is high. 46% of adult offenders are reconvicted within one year of release; the government estimates the financial cost to be £13 billion per year.
Geoff Baxter OBE, CEO of Prison Fellowship, said "I am delighted by the recognition of our partnership with John Dwyer, Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner and his commitment to restorative practice through his funding of the Sycamore Tree Programme. Sycamore Tree uses restorative practices to help offenders break the cycle of reoffending. It offers a unique opportunity for them to consider how their behaviour can impact victims, communities and their own families. Their feedback shows that the course instils hope and helps offenders to begin to develop a crime-free identity. Our aim is to support a greater number of volunteers, open up more opportunities for prisoners to turn their lives around and contribute to safer communities."
Photo: Stephen Hawkins from the Prison Fellowship receiving the cheque from John Dwyer.
