Our councils are about change. Change for the people who attend them and change from the people in the systems they are in.
We have developed a tried-and-tested council model that’s used in prisons and in the community: for probation, youth offending teams and other services that serve people in the criminal justice system.
It’s a chance for everyone on the wing, or on licence, to have their say and contribute ideas and solutions to benefit everyone.
If people with convictions are motivated to give feedback on their experience of services, it fuels a culture of continuous improvement within criminal justice. The opportunity to use your own experience is a way to grow peoples’ confidence, skills, and sense of accountability for their actions – the start of a process of rehabilitation.
The councils’ democratic process makes sure that all voices can be heard. Focusing on collective challenges and solutions we can give practitioners and policy-makers a route to effective and lasting change.
Our councils work because they are both independent and facilitated. They are staffed by people in prison and on probation and heard by the governors and commissioners. This process is a crucial step in breaking down the damaging ‘Them’ versus ‘Us’ culture identified by founder Mark Johnson.
VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE BECOME PAID MEMBERS OF STAFF
COUNCILS IN PRISONS, CRCs & NPS
PEOPLE CURRENTLY ON OUR COUNCILS
Get involved. Use your Experience.
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