Sheffield and Doncaster CFO Hub openings
The new GC CFO Evolution Activity Hubs have been launched at St James House in Sheffield and Sepulchre Gate, Doncaster, with attendees present at the launch events from the Probation Service, NHS, Drug and Alcohol Services, employment providers, the Ministry of Justice CFO team, Approved Premises colleagues and GC EDI Leads.
Image: Sheffield event
The contract builds on the success of the previous Ministry of Justice CFO3 and CFO Activity Hub programmes, and the Activity Hubs provide a safe space for offenders to attend, on a voluntary basis, to access a range of interventions designed to foster community buy-in, increase wellbeing, and develop the skills required to navigate through the array of issues that present barriers to community integration.
Image: Doncaster event
GC Employment hosts partnership event in York
The GC-Employment's Ministry of Justice CRS Finance, Benefit and Debt team hosted a partnership event in York City Centre on the 27th September, with attendees from Money Wellness, Virgin Media / O2, Police - Operation Mariner, Department for Work and Pensions, NECA, St Vincent de Paul, New Futures Network Prison Employment Leads (PELs) and ID/Banking Leads, as well as 22 GC Finance, Benefit and Debt Advisers from prisons across Yorkshire and the Humber.
The event included a networking session, where everyone got to meet in person and discuss the support available, current processes in place and how to develop and improve these, plus a section, delivered by the GC management team, on why partnership working is so important, which included an open discussion with everyone in the room, considering potential strategies and ideas moving forward. A case study activity was also completed, where attendees split into six groups of advisors, managers, external partners and prison partners and an action plan of support was created for a service user. The groups then came back together to discuss any new resources / support identified as a part of the discussion.
Feedback from attendees included:
- Louise Downing (Virgin Media/O2) – ‘ I really enjoyed it. It was useful in terms of the feedback for our service, and also to understand the advisor role. The afternoon exercise was great! Really gained knowledge from the whole day’.
- Lauren Taylor (GC FBD Advisor) – ‘It was great to speak to partners so that they can understand the barriers we face and it was really useful to get extra contacts’.
- Rebecca Lamb (Money Wellness) – ‘We really enjoyed meeting you all in person and getting to speak to some of the advisers using our service already. Please do let us know about any other events and we will be sure to attend where we can. The whole day ran really well, I made lots of notes from the conversations I had and have a list of ideas for how we may be able to make the process better for advisers’.
The Refugee Employability Programme is one year old!
With REP cupcakes in hand, the team looked back on a successful year at three celebration events, with partners and service users across our various Yorkshire offices.
Partners and service users were welcomed to the events and there was a chance to network at the beginning.
As everyone introduced themselves and indulged in some REP branded cupcakes for breakfast, the presentations commenced. Service managers, Kate Liddle and Naveed Ahmed, led the sessions and reflected on a successful first year of REP, highlighting key activities such as English language Conversation Clubs, Local Integration Days, Coffee Mornings and many job fairs.
Looking ahead, they introduced their new volunteering offer for service users and how they will continue to deliver their positive and impactful service and support service users.
Finally, after successful mornings, the events concluded with a thank you to everyone who has helped the contract become what it is today.
