In order to gain a service user response to the proposed changes to custodial youth education, User Voice held a series of focus group sessions with young individuals who have experience of youth custody.
The focus group questions were designed to engage the service users and encourage them to analyse what impact the proposals would have and the pros/cons of this.
Several themes were identified which are presented here in the form of a series of recommendations.
Click here to read the User Voice response INVISIBLE INPUT: What Service Users think about 'Transforming Rehabilitation'.
The response uses feedback from focus groups held with 41 service users to draft recommendations for the Government to consider when finalising changes to community based rehabilitation services.
The proposed changes are outlined in the Ministry of Justice consultation paper, which you can read more about here.
Click below to watch User Voice's Head of Programmes Paula Harriott talk to Jon Snow on Channel 4 News on Monday 11th March.
Paula gives insightful reflections on her personal experience of first entering prison and on what Vicky Pryce may be going through whilst beginning her own eight month sentence.
Click below to watch User Voice founder Mark Johnson give evidence to the Irish Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality at the Houses of the Oireachtas on 27 February.
Mark outlined his vision for penal reform and presented the successful work of User Voice to date, discussing possibilities of User Voice expanding its work within the Criminal Justice System to Ireland.
Committee Chairman David Stanton, TD, said: “Today we had a very positive and enlightening meeting with Mark Johnson, founder of User Voice...
“...he provided us with a comprehensive and in-depth presentation on his experiences of crime and the penal system and outlined his vision for penal reform and a criminal justice system that would see offenders as key to their own rehabilitation, key to improving the system and instrumental in reducing offending."
You can now view the report of the sub-committee on penal reform in Ireland, released in April 2013 following public hearings, invited submissions and fact-finding trips to Irish prisons as well as abroad to observe the penal estate in Finland.
The report proposes a comprehensive 'decarceration' strategy, to be implemented and to effect a real improvement within a time-frame of 10 years. User Voice are mentioned on page 18.
Role
Title Peer Mentoring Programme Volunteer (Essex)
Purpose
of the role To support User Voice staff in the completion of service user questionnaires, the recruitment of Mentors and Mentees for the programme and to assist the Programme Manager with administrative tasks during training sessions. The work is in various locations in Essex.
Time
Commitment 2 - 3 days per week (not exceeding 16 hours)
Duration 4 weeks in addition to a period of training
Responsibilities
& Duties Assist the Programme Manager to: - Raise awareness of the Peer Mentoring Programme with service users
- Facilitate the completion of service user questionnaires
- Administrative duties during training sessions Skills
& Experience - Excellent communication skills. - Some knowledge of the Criminal Justice System, particularly Probation. First-hand experience is desirable. - Experience of supporting trainers in teaching
environments is desirable.
Personal Qualities - A non-judgemental attitude. - Good time keeping and punctuality. - Ability to keep information confidential. - Enthusiasm for User Voice’s mission and aims. - Ability to work well with others, as well as individually.
Benefits - An invaluable experience working on a high profile project. - An opportunity to contribute to an innovative programme. - A chance to develop existing skills and gain new ones. - Work experience to add to your CV. - Support from User Voice staff including a personal development plan. - Reimbursement of travel and lunch costs. Training You will be provided with full training necessary for you to perform the role. CRB Check Yes, CRB checks are done at the earliest possible stage. However your CRB is not a barrier to this work and each case will be reviewed on its merits. Reference/Interview Yes, this is a standard requirement for all volunteers. How to Apply If you are interested please complete the volunteer registration form indicating the role you are interested in or email volunteer@uservoice.org or call 020 3137 7471.
Volunteer Role Role Title Community
Council Volunteer (Cumbria)
Purpose of the role To support
User Voice staff in the completion of service user questionnaires and the
recruitment of service users for the Community Council project.
Time Commitment 1-2 days per
week
Duration 4 weeks in addition to a period of training.
Responsibilities & Duties Assist the
Programme Manager to: - Promote
User Voice and the Community Council project to service users - Facilitate
the completion of service user questionnaires
Skills & Experience Excellent
communication skills Some
knowledge of the Criminal Justice System, particularly Probation. First-hand
experience is desirable.
Personal Qualities A
non-judgemental attitude Good
time keeping and punctuality Ability
to keep information confidential Enthusiasm
for User Voice’s mission and aims Ability
to work well with others as well as individually
Benefits An
invaluable experience working on a high profile project An
opportunity to contribute to real positive change A
chance to develop existing skills and gain new ones Work
experience to add to your CV Support
from User Voice staff including a personal development plan Reimbursement
of travel and lunch costs Training You will be
provided with full training necessary for you to perform the role. CRB Check Yes, CRB
checks are done at the earliest possible stage. However your CRB is not a
barrier to this work and each case will be reviewed on its merits. Reference/Interview Yes, this is
a standard requirement for all volunteers. How to Apply If you are
interested please complete the volunteer registration
form indicating which
role you are interested in or email volunteer@uservoice.org or call 020 3137 7471.
.jpg)
