Nacro news

Earlier this year, Nacro was approached by the Learning and Work Institute to take part in national research on the roll out and implementation of the Government’s traineeship programme.

Nacro Chief Executive, Jacob Tas, said: “While the Queen’s speech inevitably focused on Brexit, the government must not take its eye off the ‘injustices’ in this country, which the Prime Minister rightly referred to. We respond below to specific proposals included in the Queen’s speech based upon our experience of supporting disadvantaged young people and adults…

On the 19 April, with the kind permission of the Speaker of the House of Commons, we brought a year-long celebration of our 50th anniversary to a close with an evening reception at the Speaker’s House in the House of Commons. The celebrations throughout the year have been a great opportunity for us to reflect on…

A full house gathered at the House of Lords last week to celebrate five years of Nacro’s research and policy programme, Beyond Youth Custody, and the Youth in Focus programme. Youth in Focus (YIF) is a Big Lottery Fund initiative which funded BYC and 15 voluntary sector projects across the country supporting young people leaving custody….

Nacro Director of Education and Skills, Lisa Capper, said: “We are delighted that Nacro has been included within the new apprenticeship training provider register published by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Skills Finding Agency (SFA) earlier this month, which aims to ensure that apprenticeships are run only by the highest quality providers. “From May…

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…