July 11, 2022
|By Foundation
|
Horizons is a Ministry of Justice scheme to reduce reoffending and homelessness in West Yorkshire. Foundation delivered Horizons in partnership with charity, Turning Lives Around.
The service contract is closing at the end of July and Sandy, Lead Navigator, at TLA for Horizons has written the below poem about her experiences with the service.
Locked Up, Locked Down, Now Finally, The Shut Down
The Ministry of justice offered 3 years of funding,
Leeds, Bristol, Pentonville, all won the bidding
With our pilot running from HMP Leeds
To support offenders with their housing needs
Covid was a massive barrier to how it panned out
It didn’t help that there were no police about
Clients were in heaven in a bed and breakfast hotel
Drugs were rife and staff were working in hell.
So many have made major life changes
Setting up a business, or first Christmas out in ages
Restoring a canal boat, completing their rehab
Staff didn’t expect to receive threats to stab
Every quarter, reports were duly completed
Clients, staff, probation, no one was defeated
Now Horizons time is ending
Letters of thanks clients are sending
As the lights go off and office desks emptied
We look back at what we attempted
What Mr Scott requested; we did our best
But now Horizons will be laid to rest
Life has No boundaries, Only Horizons
By Sandy
Lead Navigator, Horizons