Almost two months into being Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has been setting out key priorities that have the potential to shape outcomes for people who Nacro supports across our education, housing, and justice services.
There is much to welcome, and much to continue to push for over coming months to create lasting change.
At Nacro, we see every day how access to the right support can transform lives, and where policy interventions have the greatest potential to make a difference. Below we set out three areas already in focus, alongside three areas which will require further attention to reduce disadvantage, strengthen communities and improve opportunities for everyone.
Three areas of current focus for the Government
1. Ending rough sleeping
The Prime Minister’s first commitment on taking office was to eliminate rough sleeping, supported by more than £300 million of funding. This is an important and welcome pledge. With half of rough sleepers at the last annual count having spent time in prison and Ministry of Justice data showing 300 people a week leaving prison into rough sleeping or homelessness, it is clear that this pledge will only be achieved with a focus on ending prison leaver homelessness.
2. Tackling the prison capacity crisis and early releases
The PM paused and reviewed the changes to release dates brought in by the Sentencing Act earlier this year. The changes mean that some people convicted of certain crimes will no longer be released into community supervision at an earlier point of their sentences. The Prime Minister faces the huge challenge of prisons operating at 98% capacity, unable to effectively support rehabilitation, and at risk of hitting capacity in the future.
3. Devolution
From more control over public transport, to shaping new educational pathways, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made it clear that there will be a concerted push to ensure that decisions are taken at a local level wherever possible.
Three more areas for focus
1. Supporting young people into work
The continued focus on tackling the one million young people not in employment, education, or training is critical.
The upcoming publication of the Milburn Review is a generational opportunity to set a future pathway which gives young people the skills and opportunities they need and deserve, and improve our economic outlook. We see from our own work that those most at risk of being NEET are too often disadvantaged in the system and not able to access the education and support which most makes a difference. Early indications that the Government could consider supported internships and technical education to help move more young people into work or education are welcome.
2. Community justice support
The focus on the prison capacity crisis needs to urgently turn to the support needed to help people turn their lives around in the community, for those leaving prison and on community sentences.
Somewhere safe and secure to live, support with mental health and substance misuse, skills and employment opportunities, and wellbeing and relationships support are all crucial. Without this, people are being set up to fail, and we will continue to see high rates of recall to prison refilling spare prison places created, as well as high rates of reoffending. To reform the justice system for everyone, the Government needs to set out how they will ensure that everyone leaving prison and on a community sentence gets the support they need to build a positive future.
3. Supported housing
Supported housing helps people build independence, prevent crisis and turn their lives around, but it has faced underfunding, high levels of demand and rogue landlords.
Supported housing is estimated to save £3.5 billion every year by reducing rough sleeping, prison numbers, and temporary accommodation. The Government should ensure the new regulatory regime is introduced to remove rogue landlords, and ensure that the supply of high quality supported housing increases and is available to all groups who need it.
Looking ahead
The coming months will reveal how these priorities are translated into policy and action. While progress on rough sleeping, youth employment, prison reform and devolution could bring significant benefits, delivering long-term change will require joined-up solutions that give everyone the opportunity to reach their potential.
