November 11, 2022
|By Foundation
|
As we know Foundation have been shortlisted for Organisation of the Year by The Howard League for Penal Reform for its amazing work with Directions, +Choices and The North Yorkshire Resettlement and Community Safety Scheme.
The Howard League Annual Community Awards celebrate the most successful community projects that encourage desistance from crime and offer unique support to help keep individuals out of the criminal justice system.
As the Howard League Awards are fast approaching, we caught up with Kate Hemmens, Service Manager at Directions to hear about her time with Foundation and what being shortlisted as Organisation of the Year means to her and the service.
How long have you worked with Foundation and which service do you work in?
I have worked for Foundation for five and a half years. I started out as Service Manager for the Leeds Beacon and Kirklees Services. I then moved over to North Yorkshire as Service Manager for Harrogate & Craven. Finally, I moved over to Directions in May 2021. I have loved my time with the organisation because I have experienced so many different services and worked with some incredible colleagues.
Can you tell us about the service you work for and what your service means to local communities?
Directions provides wellbeing interventions for men that are reportable to probation in custody or in the community. We cover North Yorkshire with our service and have worked with over 500 men since June 2021, delivered 1200 intervention sessions supporting the overall aim of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and HM Probation & Prison Services (HMPPS) to reduce reoffending.
Do you have a highlight(s) about your time working with Foundation?
- Seeing the Directions service thrive and be ranked in the top 5, nationally.
- Feedback from our clients about the impact our support has had on them.
What is your fondest memory about supporting the clients you work with?
When clients share their ‘expert by experience’ knowledge with others, how support has helped them and that for many, there is hope that positive change can happen.
Foundation have been shortlisted for a Howards Award, how did this come about?
We noticed the award and felt it was something we could apply for to celebrate all the amazing work Directions; The North Yorkshire Resettlement and Community Safety Scheme & +Choices do across the county.
How does it feel being shortlisted?
Brilliant, I feel so proud, such a nice recognition.
What does this mean for Foundation moving forward?
It would be a great accolade for our clients and colleagues and something we can shout about!
Do you have anything else you would like to say?
Our services wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated and highly skilled colleagues who work tirelessly everyday supporting others. All my colleagues believe passionately in someone’s ability to make positive changes.
Directions is a male-only service providing a wide range of tailored support across North Yorkshire to males reportable to probation in the community or in custody. Directions supports individuals who are preparing to leave prison and aims to reduce the risk of individuals re-offending by supporting them to reconnect with their community. There is a rotating programme of support available to individuals. Directions uses a restorative approach with inclusivity, empowerment, choice, and collaboration at its core.
The North Yorkshire Resettlement and Community Safety Scheme is a Foundation service that works with offenders and ex-offenders. It is a high-performing short term support service for those who have the highest needs and pose the greatest risks to themselves and the community.
+Choices (Positive Choices) is a bespoke programme to support perpetrators of all kinds of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional, and coercive control to acknowledge and change their abusive behaviour. It aims to minimise the risks to those involved in domestic abuse and reduce the chances for a repeat incident to occur.
The Howard League Awards take place on Tuesday 22nd November.
Fingers crossed for Foundation!