A WEST Yorkshire project that supports prisoners on release from jail has been awarded Lottery cash.
The scheme to help male offenders to lead a positive and crime-free life on their release from prison is one of six projects across the region celebrating an injection of Lottery cash totalling more than £1.3m.
West Yorkshire Chaplaincy Project has received just over £250,000 to provide a range of ‘through the prison gate’ support from paid staff and highly-trained volunteers.
They will help to support offenders to re-settle into the community and lead meaningful lives.
It is hoped this will help to reduce the reconviction rate and create happier and safer communities.
Offenders volunteer to join the project and must show a need for support and a desire to change. They are then visited by project staff and volunteers to identify their needs on release and come up with an action plan.
They are offered help with things such as attending relevant training courses, writing CVs, applying for jobs and taking up appropriate volunteering.
Jane Daguerre, director of WYCCP, said: “We support male prisoners. Men often leave prison with little or no support, nowhere to live, no prospect of a job and no apparent option other than to resume the activities that led them to being in prison.”
