Author and Job Role: George Bell, Criminal Justice Policy & Commissioning Officer
Protective Marking: Official
Executive Summary:
For 2023/24 the Police and Crime Commissioner has made available £270,000.00 of funding to reduce reoffending in Surrey.
Standard Grant Award above £5,000 – Reducing Reoffending Fund
Surrey County Council – Bridge the Gap Specialist Outreach Service – Lisa Byrne
Brief overview of service/decision – To award £120,000 to Surrey County Council. This will be paid in two instalments – £65,000 in 23/24, with the remaining £55,000 in 24/25. This is to fund 2.5 posts at the specialist trauma-informed relational outreach service to support residents experiencing Multiple Disadvantage. Bridge the Gap is provided by trauma informed specialist workers through an alliance of Surrey’s voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
Reason for funding – 1) The reduction of reoffending in Surrey. The Bridge the Gap programme helps support people from experiencing harm in Surrey and works to stabilise people in the community who have a history of offending. This allows them to thrive, work to reduce their substance use and motivation to offend and helps them to engage positively back into their communities.
2) Help to create safer communities and protect people from harm in Surrey. Bridge the Gap helps partners respond to the wider determinants of community safety, aligns to the strategic ambitions of the combatting drugs partnership, and supports the reduction of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in our communities. This is done by using a prevention and early intervention approach to supporting individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage.
3) Preventing violence against women and girls in Surrey. The four main domestic abuse providers being key members of the Bridge the Gap Alliance who are supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
Recommendation
That the Commissioner supports this standard grant application to the Reducing Reoffending Fund and awards to the following;
- £120,000 (paid in two instalments) to Surrey County Council. The fist instalment of £65,000 is to be paid in 23/24. The second instalment of £55,000 is to be paid in 24/25.
Police and Crime Commissioner approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend (wet signed copy held at PCC Office)
Date: 19 February 2024
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.