Author and Job Role: George Bell, Criminal Justice Policy & Commissioning Officer
Protective Marking: Official
Executive Summary:
For 2022/23 the Police and Crime Commissioner has made available £270,000.00 of funding to reduce reoffending in Surrey.
Applications for Standard Grant Award above £5,000 – Reducing Reoffending Fund
Forward Trust – Vision Housing – Tara Moore
Brief overview of service/decision – To award £30,000 to Forward Trust’s Vision Housing project. Vision Housing Services provides accommodation in the private rented sector with tenancy support to vulnerable individuals, including those with a history of offending, homelessness, drug, and alcohol and/or other mental health issues.
Reason for funding – 1) To develop these services in Surrey through supporting individuals who come under the Surrey Adults Matter (SAM) cohort, who have a variety of complex needs and need support to access and sustain accommodation.
2) To protect people from harm in Surrey and work towards reducing reoffending by providing stability for individuals with safe and secure accommodation. Additionally ensuring the holistic support needed to help service users effectively turn away from addiction and offending behaviour.
Clean Sheet – Reducing Reoffending Through Employment – Samantha Graham
Brief overview of service/decision – To award £60,000 to Clean Sheet (£20,000 a year over three years). This is to fund a project to divert people with convictions away from reoffending by providing tailored employment support. This project has previously been supported by the Commissioner.
Reason for funding – 1) To directly reduce reoffending in Surrey through helping people with convictions to find employment and a route away from reoffending. Being a constant and consistent part in someone’s job search journey, helping them to navigate setbacks and overcome barriers, minimises the risk of someone committing further offences.
2) Help to create safer communities and protect people from harm in Surrey by reducing reoffending, resulting in fewer victims of crime, and helping people with convictions to gain financial independence, reduce social isolation and exclusion, and reintegrate into the local community.
Recommendation
That the Commissioner supports these standard grant applications to the Reducing Reoffending Fund and awards to the following;
- £30,000 to the Forward Trust
- £60,000 (over three years) to Clean Sheet
Police and Crime Commissioner Approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey (Wet signed copy held at PCC’s Office)
Date: 20 December 2022
All decisions must be added to the decision register.
Areas of consideration
Consultation
Consultation has taken place with appropriate lead officers depending on the application. All applications have been asked to supply evidence of any consultation and community engagement.
Financial implications
All applications have been asked to confirm the organisation hold accurate financial information. They are also asked to include the total costs of the project with breakdown where the money will be spent; any additional funding secured or applied for and plans for on-going funding. The Reducing Reoffending Fund Decision Panel/Criminal Justice policy officers considers the financial risks and opportunities when looking at each application.
Legal
Legal advice is taken on an application-by-application basis.
Risks
The Reducing reoffending Fund Decision Panel and Criminal Justice policy officers considers any risks in the allocation of funding. It is also part of the process to consider when refusing an application, the service delivery risks if appropriate.
Equality and diversity
Each application will be requested to supply appropriate equality and diversity information as part of the monitoring requirements. All applicants are expected to adhere to the Equality Act 2010.
Risks to human rights
Each application will be requested to supply appropriate human rights information as part of the monitoring requirements. All applicants are expected to adhere to the Human Rights Act.