Decision 25/2022 – Reducing Reoffending Fund Application – August 2022

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey – Decision Making Record

Reducing Reoffending Fund Application – August 2022

Decision number: 025/2022

Author and Job Role: George Bell, Criminal Justice Policy & Commissioning Officer

Protective Marking: Official

Executive Summary:

For 2022/23 the Police and Crime Commissioner has made available £270,000.00 of funding to reduce reoffending in Surrey.

Application for Small Grant Award under or equal to £5,000 – Reducing Reoffending Fund

Holme Farm – Community Payback in Surrey – Rebecca Huffer

Brief overview of service/decision – To award £5,000 to Community Workshops & Gardens at Holme Farm, a registered charity which is creating an intergenerational community hub, green space, workshops and gardens at a disused site at Holme Farm, Woodham.

Reason for funding – 1) Community Workshops & Gardens at Holme Farm actively looks to reduce reoffending as it supports volunteer working parties, and partners with HM Probation through the Community Payback scheme to offer offenders an opportunity to do voluntary work at Holme Farm.

2) Green and social prescribing, education, mental and physical wellbeing, and conservation form part of Holme Farm’s governing principles. The project looks to create a sustainable asset for the local community, strengthening the relationship between local residents, the OPCC, and HM Probation Surrey.

Liberty Choir – Pilot-Programme at HMP High Down & HMP&YOI Downview- Emma Gray

Brief overview of service/decision – To award £5,000 to Liberty Choir, who are full-circle charity whose work begins with in-prison weekly choir rehearsals (20 prisoners, 20 community volunteers, director, accompanist). This initial project is an 8-week pilot-programme at HMP High Down and HMP & YOI Downview to reintroduce Liberty Choir to the men and women, following a sustained period of activity restrictions in both prisons due to the pandemic.

Reason for funding – 1) This pilot promotes the rehabilitation of prisoners in setting up choirs to build the skills and capacity of offenders, so that they can break the cycle of re-offending on release into the community. Once the participants leave prison, they are supported by volunteers through Liberty Choir’s network of community choirs.

2) It promotes social inclusion amongst socially excluded people, by providing a programme of high-quality singing, to help develop skills and self-confidence. This assists them with social integration when they return to the community.

Recommendation

That the Commissioner supports these small grant applications to the Reducing Reoffending Fund and awards to the following;

  • £5,000 to the Community Workshops & Gardens at Holme Farm
  • £5,000 to Liberty Choir for its 8-week pilot-programme

Police and Crime Commissioner Approval

I approve the recommendation(s):

Signature: PCC Lisa Townsend (wet signed copy held in OPCC)

Date: 17th August 2022

All decisions must be added to the decision register.

Areas of consideration

Consultation

Consultation has taken place with appropriate lead officers depending on the application. All applications have been asked to supply evidence of any consultation and community engagement.

Financial implications

All applications have been asked to confirm the organisation hold accurate financial information. They are also asked to include the total costs of the project with breakdown where the money will be spent; any additional funding secured or applied for and plans for on-going funding. The Reducing Reoffending Fund Decision Panel/Criminal Justice policy officers considers the financial risks and opportunities when looking at each application.

Legal

Legal advice is taken on an application-by-application basis.

Risks

The Reducing reoffending Fund Decision Panel and Criminal Justice policy officers considers any risks in the allocation of funding. It is also part of the process to consider when refusing an application, the service delivery risks if appropriate.

Equality and diversity

Each application will be requested to supply appropriate equality and diversity information as part of the monitoring requirements. All applicants are expected to adhere to the Equality Act 2010

Risks to human rights

Each application will be requested to supply appropriate human rights information as part of the monitoring requirements. All applicants are expected to adhere to the Human Rights Act.