Transitions: Youth Resettlement
The Resettlement Project is a partnership between Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Citywall. Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit commissioned the project for mentoring young people in custody services, in preparation for their release into the community.
Referrals come from Salford or Manchester Youth Justice Services and involve strong collaboration, working with the team around the family. During the period of custody, our caseworker travels to the young person, wherever they are across the country, to engage them in mentoring conversation and to begin building rapport. This ensures that, from the point of sentencing, resettlement is the focus. Our caseworkers then remain involved to support the transition back into the community on release. Throughout the process, we offer family support to afford the young person the best possible opportunity to resettle into the community. Each young person has a bespoke Resettlement Plan, shaped around the Pathways to Resettlement model.
Why is the project important?
Families can struggle to visit and support their children in custody and access to professional services can be limited. Additionally, there is a pattern of loneliness and isolation among young people in custody, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and negative influences. Therefore, meeting regularly with a mentor will aid communication with professionals and families. Recent safeguarding and parental concerns have highlighted that young people are reluctant to use existing lines of communication to report peer-related issues. This emphasises the need for regular mentoring visits.
The resettlement of young people into the community is a complex process, with many variables. Re-offending rates are high; in part due to the range of challenges young people face when they return to the community. This project aims to support this transition to reduce reoffending rates.
What are the objectives?
Ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable young people while in custody.
Build social skills and resilience through 1:1 and small group mentoring.
Increase aspirations and motivation to avoid further criminal activity.
Facilitate reintegration to the community upon release from custody.
Engage families, to better support their child.
What are the expected outcomes?
Improved channels of communication for reporting injuries or concerns to young people.
A range of assessment tools that demonstrate an increase in resilience and aspirations for the young person as the programme progresses.
Sustained periods of non-engagement in further criminal activity.
Family Assessment tool identifies areas for growth and feeds into the young person’s Resettlement Plan.