Impact Newsletter - August 2023

Issue No.23 / August 2023

What’s inside...

New reducing reoffending service for the South West

benefits system can be key to reducing reoffending.

A new money and debt service is set to support the successful rehabilitation of offenders across the South West of England.

Launching in October 2023 and running for three years, the Finance, Benefits and Debt (FBD) service will provide professional money management advice to participants referred by the Probation Service in a bid to prevent debt issues leading them back to criminality. It will operate across Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, and Dorset.

The Ministry of Justice programme will be delivered by Ingeus in partnership with Citizens Advice. It will help men aged 18 and over, living on probation within the community. Services will also be provided to those still resident within the prison system, available at six regional prisons: HMP Bristol, Leyhill, Exeter, Portland, Channing Wood, and Guys Marsh.

Pat Bannigan, Head of Programme

Delivery for Ingeus, says: “It is widely acknowledged that helping offenders deal with debt and navigate the

“Being able to support people prior to their release from prison will prevent delays in accessing benefits and setting up bank accounts to receive them. These are typically big stumbling blocks for people just out of prison. We will also offer debt guidance and financial awareness, so that participants know what they will face and have strategies to deal with it on their release. This is a huge step forward in preventing problems that we know if left unresolved can drive people back to criminal activity.”

Similarly, community-based services for people on probation will include help to understand and apply for benefits, advice on financial products and applying for a bank account, debt management, and budgeting guidance. Practical help will be provided by our experienced case workers, many of whom will have faced similar challenges to the scheme’s service users. For more complex cases, Financial Conduct Authority-accredited advisors from Citizens Advice will assist.

The FBD service forms part of the Ministry of Justice’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services; a suite of probation system programmes designed to end the cycle of

reoffending. Ingeus already delivers the FBD community-based service in the East and West Midlands, South Central Thames Valley and South Central Hampshire. It also provides education, training and employment, dependency and recovery, accommodation, and personal wellbeing services to people on probation.

“Managing finances is a major barrier for people trying to rebuild their lives,” explains Carrie Peters, Director of Justice Services for Ingeus. “People leaving custody are likely to be at the extreme end of the cost-of-living struggle, probably unemployed and living in temporary accommodation. Ensuring meaningful support is available both before and immediately following release is key to tackling reoffending behaviour.

“We are delighted to be bringing our experience to the South West and working with established experts, Citizens Advice, who help people daily with their money problems. Together we will be helping men to turn away from crime, building better lives for themselves and their families and strengthening rehabilitation within their local communities.”

The FBD contract will launch on 17 October 2023 and will currently run until April 2026.

Page 3 Richard’s new job is a breath of fresh air

Page 4 Restart Scheme Advisors support Hackney Foodbank

Page 5 Aziz’s business is Blooming

My wife’s death left me with four children to bring up… and a job to find

for a consortium of organisations. David applied for, and got, the job. He says: “Ingeus gave me interview practice and training in writing a highperformance, results-based CV – that preparation made the difference.”

Sector3 recognises the value in being a flexible employer, which means David can work from home three days a week, writing reports and funding bids, and holding online meetings. On office days he can arrive at 10am and leave at 2pm, allowing time to do the school runs.

my youngest, but this was a threeyear-old who had just lost his mother – I couldn’t do it,” he recalls.

David was referred to Ingeus and the Restart Scheme, which offers government-funded employability and wellbeing support to jobseekers across Greater Manchester.

“At my first interview my Career Coach Michelle, rather than just looking at my papers, said, ‘Tell me who you are’.

Vicky Bloomfield, Operations Manager at Sector3, says: “We were impressed by David from the moment we met him. He is a natural leader and we are excited about what he can bring to his role and the benefits for migrant communities in Stockport.”

David adds: “I love my job. I come from East Africa and understand that many refugees have had bad experiences. The people who come here, be it refugees or migrants, have a story to tell and it’s important to listen to what they have to offer.

Then his life took a tragic turn, and it was David who found himself in need of support. The 46-year-old had been working for a refugee charity in Manchester when his wife Joy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Nine months later she died at home in her sleep, leaving David as the sole carer of four children aged three to 13.

Childcare duties, in particular the need to drop off his children at two different schools while looking after his infant son, meant going out to work was impossible.

“I was offered help with childcare for

“‘Steering you towards conventional jobs would be a waste of your experience. You have so much to offer the refugee community.’

“She put me in touch with Sector3 – a charity infrastructure support network in Stockport. I went along to one of its meetings with 20 local charities and straight away I felt at home.”

David started voluntary work fundraising for the charities, helping to raise in excess of £30,000 and to bid for funding for a project supporting refugees

The funding was won and, soon after, Sector3 advertised a new role of Refugee and Migrant Partner Lead

“By seeing who I was, Ingeus and Michelle supported my chances of getting employment where I could transform lives and ignite a positive chain reaction of goodness in the society in which I am raising my children.”

Michelle says: “David took onboard every suggestion and understood the value of volunteering and networking. His positive outlook on life, despite major setbacks, are a credit to his strength of character. He is back in the driving seat of his life. It has been a privilege to work with him and the ripple effect of his support to others will flow again.”

As a trained lawyer, David spent 12 years working to support refugees and migrants to find their feet in the UK and overcome the barriers they faced in securing jobs.

Richard’s new job is a breath of fresh air

They say never to work with children or animals – but life at the zoo is a dream job for Richard!

He was unemployed and lacking in confidence when he signed up to the Work and Health Programme, delivered by Ingeus in the North West. Under the programme, anyone who has a health condition, or who has been unemployed for a long time, is given tailored support to find work. From stress and anxiety, to physical health conditions and disabilities, we work with health professionals, employment specialists and local community organisations to help people overcome any challenges they might be facing and find a job that’s right for them.

Upon joining the programme, Richard was assigned a key worker, Daran, who provided him with one-to-one support. After Richard expressed a wish to work outdoors, Daran helped him apply for a job at Blackpool Zoo, believing it would be “absolutely superb” for him.

Richard says: “I had a CV at the time that wasn’t really up to scratch. Daran helped me to improve it and I didn’t have a cover letter either, so he helped me with that as well.”

Richard secured an interview at the zoo and was quickly snapped up as a Visitor Services seasonal employee.

The zoo’s duty manager Gary was impressed by Richard’s can-do attitude. He says: “Richard, from the word go, came across as being very proactive… he was a guy that I very quickly realised I could rely on to get the job done.”

Richard’s role incorporates a range

of responsibilities, from car park operations to meeting and greeting guests and keeping the park clean and tidy. He loves the variety – and couldn’t be happier to be working outdoors. Richard says: “Working at Blackpool Zoo is really enjoyable because you get your cardio in and that’s what I like, I don’t like staying in one spot. It is one of those jobs where you’ll meet a lot of friendly people, and it is a really great experience because you go to the zoo all day!”

He adds: “The Work and Health Programme has helped me boost my confidence. They have made me realise it’s not too hard to find a job, and they’ve also put some belief into me so I can actually try these things and expand my horizons. The Work and Health Programme overall experience was amazing. They were very helpful, very supportive, and I appreciate everything they’ve done.”

Restart Scheme Advisors supporting Hackney Foodbank

Advisors on the Restart Scheme, a programme delivered on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions to help people into lasting work, swapped their usual day-to-day duties to volunteer for their first volunteering session at Hackney Foodbank.

Members of the team got involved in a range of tasks on their shifts, which included packing food crates for local distribution sites and putting together deliveries to send out to disabled people unable to visit a distribution centre.

At the end of the day, the results showed for themselves with a total of 1134 individual food items packed, over 100 bottles of washing up liquid separated out to maximise usage and 30 personal deliveries ready to be sent out.

With four upcoming dates planned in and potential for further sessions throughout the year, it’s a great start to an ongoing partnership between Restart Scheme advisors and Hackney Foodbank.

Aziz’s business is Blooming

Regent’s Canal in Victoria Park – the Papion Store Floating Dog Snacks Bar sells all-natural dog treats and upcycled dog accessories including handmade leads, collars, bandanas, and bowties. Inspired by Aziz’s joint love of the water, and dogs, the business is a world away from his initial vocation.

Originally intent on a mariner’s life, Aziz studied marine transportation at university in Cyprus and embarked on a career manning cargo ships. Three years later, he realised long haul travel wasn’t for him and, acknowledging his lack of English language skills, moved to the UK in 2016 determined to find his niche. He studied a language course, then worked in food service, administration, and retail before redundancy in late 2021 ignited his passion to start his own business.

“I love bow ties and began upcycling old clothes to make them for friends,” explains Aziz, who now speaks fluent English. “It quickly morphed into making dog accessories, then sourcing natural treats, selling them at local markets. Sitting on my boat one evening, I realised how many dog walkers were passing by and the Floating Dog Snack Bar was born!

“I was learning from scratch as I went along, with no real budget, and it got tough at times to keep going.”

up an online store for when the Great British weather restricted walkers past the boat. She then arranged for Aziz to speak with RIFT Social Enterprise; its specialist partner for self-employment services.

“It was clear that Aziz was enthusiastic and resourceful but was struggling on his own and needed practical help to boost sales, develop a professional online presence, and plan cashflow,” says Jacqueline. “RIFT has specialist knowledge of supporting startups, especially those from humble beginnings, so it was great to be able to channel help from their 12-month self-employment support programme.”

Jemma and Lucy, Business Start-Up Advisors at RIFT Social Enterprise, began working with Aziz in October 2022. Together, they helped get the Papion.Store online, set up social media profiles, and developed a business and financial plan. With ongoing support, Aziz is now looking into the potential of a mobile dog treat van, extending his range of treats for other pets, and finding additional help to man the decks. He has a loyal following on social media, where the location of the floating dog snacks bar around Hackney is regularly posted.

Aziz founded his business the Papion Store, with few funds and no practical experience, which left him with little income or direction. Now with support from the government’s Restart Scheme and a team of expert self-employment advisors, he and Bloom are heading for calmer waters and establishing a boutique clientele amongst London’s dog owners.

Based in Aziz’s home – a 50-year-old traditional narrow boat moored on

Struggling to turnover a living income from his fledgling business, Aziz was referred by Jobcentre Plus to the government’s Restart Scheme, which gives employability support – including self-employment advice – to people receiving Universal Credit. Delivered in Central and West London by Ingeus, Aziz met with Restart Advisor Jacqueline at our Hackney branch. As well as providing suggestions on how to harness social media to build interest with dog owners, she encouraged Aziz to set

“I love being self-employed, but by its very nature it’s difficult to do everything yourself,” acknowledges Aziz, 31, who enjoys yoga and scuba diving to help unwind. “Having Restart Scheme support now is amazing. I’ve been given lots of practical information, creative ideas, and encouragement. It’s motivating me to build the business and when I see my happy dog customers and owners, it’s all worthwhile.”

Here’s to a ‘fairy-tail’ ending for Aziz and Bloom!

Launching a floating dog deli in East London is proving to be a voyage of discovery for Aziz and his Jack Russell pup Bloom.

Getting to know you...

Patrick Bannigan National Finance, Benefit and Debt Lead

ensure we provide a consistent and high-quality service. This has been made so much easier for me because of the enthusiasm of all the FBD staff.

Summer or Winter?

Winter as I do not like the heat.

Chocolate or sweets?

Would be chocolate but my doctor has banned me!

Night or morning?

Must be morning, I always start around 7am.

City or countryside?

Country, I live on Staffordshire Moorland in a small village and walk every day.

Cats or dogs?

Never been a cat fan and just bought a cocker pup.

Dressed up or casual?

I like to be smart when I go out, but around the house its casual.

Phone calls or emails?

Emails every time, gives me time to think.

Books or films?

“I came into Ingeus Justice services to help them bid for new Finance Benefit and Debt (FBD) contracts, and thanks to the success we have had I have the role as the service delivery lead to

I came into the Justice world working for Citizens Advice in prisons back in 2007, I soon came to recognise the huge FBD need and have been chipping away at it ever since. My favourite element of the role is when I meet service users and get to hear how much of a difference we are making.”

Books, I read every day, usually 2 books on the go, one a classic and one a murder mystery type.

Night out or night in?

Pub grub wins this one, hands down.

Holidays or home comforts?

Holidays - I love to travel and see the world.

This month we stopped to take a minute to find out more about Patrick Bannigan and his role at Ingeus.

We asked Patrick some of life’s essential questions: