Nacro news

On the 16 March at Central Library in Manchester, leading social justice charity, Nacro, will deliver a large-scale employer event as the formal launch of its groundbreaking initiative, the Aeneid Project. The talents and skills of more than 10 million people in the UK who have convictions are often overlooked due to many employers deciding not to…

Findings from Beyond Youth Custody (BYC), which brings together Nacro and three research and evaluation partners, were featured in an article in The Independent. The piece reported on the guidelines put forward by the Sentencing Council, which encourage judges to avoid criminalisation of young people, especially those from ethnic minorities, by examining their background in greater detail. It mentions the findings…

A joint letter signed by Nacro and other not-for-profit organisations voicing concern over supported housing was published in the Guardian. The content of the letter read as follows: As not-for-profit organisations working with some of the most vulnerable people in our society, we voice our deep concern at the government’s plans to radically change the way they pay for…

Stody House, our new housing service for ex-servicemen and women in Manchester was officially opened by the Lord Mayor Carl Austin-Behan. The service, which opened in January, is providing six veterans with a home and support with getting into employment, as well as cognitive psychological and social rehabilitation services and training opportunities to support the residents…

In September 2015 Charlie Taylor was asked to lead a departmental review of the youth justice system for the Ministry of Justice – the Taylor Review. In order to feed young people’s views and experiences into the review Nacro, along with Clinks and Peer Power, organised two consultation events for young people who had been…

On Tuesday 1st November Nacro learners and staff in Carlisle completed a 10k charity river walk to raise money for Cancer Research. Students were sponsored by family and friends and raised over £200 for the charity. The 16-19 year olds, who are studying English, maths and employability skills qualifications, planned the walk and voted for…

Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, was interviewed live on Sky News yesterday evening regarding recent protests by prison officers in disputes over safety, as well as wider issues affecting the sector. Jacob highlighted the need for greater focus on stemming the flow of people being sent to prison, with greater efforts needed to prevent reoffending, so that individuals…

Young people from our Dover education centre recently spent a day working towards the John Muir Discovery Award. The award encourages people to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places. Dover learners really enjoyed the day, learning new skills and taking on board health and safety guidance.  They made parachute rope bracelets, used logs to build fences and learned…

This month Nacro Carlisle learners  have been working with artist, Charlie Whinney, and Eden Rivers Trust, a charity which works to protect and conserve the river Eden, to design and create a wooden sculpture aimed at getting people in the local community to think positively about the river Eden following the devastating floods that hit…

On Monday the 16th May, Nacro was invited to present at the Department for Work and Pension’s ‘See Potential’ event in Cardiff at the Wales Millennium Centre.  Hosted by Liz Maher, President of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, the audience of over 90 businesses and stakeholders heard from the Minister for Employment, Priti Patel,…

Nacro’s Broxbourne XS Project has recently received and been shortlisted for a number of awards. The project received the National Crimebeat award for its “outstanding contribution to helping reduce crime and creating a safer community”. Lee Dunbar, a coach at the project, was nominated for Youth Worker of the Year at the Broxbourne Youth Awards. Take…

The course, which takes place on Thursday 3 March at the Park Inn (Radisson) Hotel, St Mary’s Street, Bedfordshire, is being supported by Olly Martins, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner. David Watson, Director of Health and Justice, at Nacro, explains: “The UK is experiencing a chronic skills shortage. While employment is at an all time…

“The Mental Health Taskforce report is an important and timely review. We are pleased to see additional funding commitment to bring about a seven day week mental health support service and the expansion of community based services for people who need additional help to live safely at, or close to home. “Poor mental health impacts…

“This is a timely and important report because, although the number of children in custody has declined over the years, the evidence is clear that the system is still failing some of our most vulnerable children. “Nacro has been delivering education in hard to reach communities for almost 50 years and we are pleased that…

“We very much welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to reforming our out-dated prison system which is currently failing victims, communities and offenders. Reoffending rates are too high and it is right to reconsider how the system can work better to ensure individuals make a positive contribution to society on release. “There are lots of individual…

Nacro, the social justice charity, has today (21 January) launched a free weekly drop-in advice service to help local people worried or affected by alcohol issues. Running from Nacro’s offices in Melville Street, Lincoln, the service named ‘The Hub’ will offer free confidential advice and support. Bridget Sheeran, Nacro support worker, said: “The Hub has…

Joanne Drew, Director of Housing at Nacro, says: ‘We need a joined up approach to regeneration, realising investment made today to create communities that prosper long after funding has been spent’.

“This is a timely and welcome report that draws attention to the many challenges currently facing children in custody. “Given the crucial importance of early planning for release to reduce reoffending and achieve effective resettlement outcomes, the finding that only 41% of boys held in the YOI estate said that they had a training, sentence…

Frances Lawrence reflects on how young people have been viewed in the media and political worlds over the past decades, the achievements made by the Philip Lawrence Awards and the young people it has helped.

“Today’s report highlights the vital importance that housing and work play in recovery from drug and alcohol misuse. “Successful treatment programmes address multiple and complex problems such as homelessness, poor mental health, low education attainment, access to work, as well as physical heath problems associated with substance misuse. “People using our housing services tell us…

Today Totton College officially joins Nacro, as part of its Education Directorate.

Commenting on yesterday’s Comprehensive Spending Review, Jacob Tas, said: “There was some positive news from the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) yesterday. In particular, Nacro welcomes the decision by the Chancellor to reduce the level of cuts feared. We are pleased to see additional funding to mental health, safeguarding of the Big Lottery Fund, protection for…

Understanding young people and responding to individual needs is essential to engaging effectively in resettlement after a period in custody, according to two new guides published by Beyond Youth Custody (BYC) a programme, which joins together Nacro, Salford and Bedfordshire Universities and ARCS (UK). Aimed specifically at practitioners who come into contact with young people…

Nigel’s appointment, which starts today (2 November), will comprise a three-year term. Nigel will work closely with the Council of Trustees and Nacro’s Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, to ensure that the charity effectively delivers its business objectives and remains focused on achieving its vision to change lives, strengthen communities and reduce crime. Jacob Tas said,…

“Our research, through our Beyond Youth Custody (BYC) programme, shows the vital importance of engaging young people in purposeful activity. Isolation takes young people away from interventions that will work to help them turn their lives around. The Commissioner is right to call for a full examination of its use and how we can better…

The project sets out to improve future employment opportunities.

Nacro and Beyond Youth Custody (BYC) held a round table event, ‘Throw away the key? Ending the cycle of reoffending’, at yesterday’s Conservative Party Conference. The event, held in the Youth Zone, was attended by a variety of leaders and opinion formers and included contributions from: Andrew Selous MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Justice;…

Wednesday 11 November 2015 | London (half day), free

The ‘Throw away the key?’ panel debate provoked discussion on ending the cycle of reoffending, drawing on the evidence from Beyond Youth Custody programme, which joins together Nacro, Salford and Bedfordshire Universities and ARCS (UK). The event explored how getting resettlement right remains a challenge in the 21st Century. Panellists included: Keith Vaz MP, Chair,…