Blog

Revolving Doors’ associate Mark Nash blogs about his experiences of running focus groups in Barking and Dagenham around domestic abuse and how it is handled in services.

It is hugely disappointing that the extension of support and supervision to short sentenced prisoners is, as yet, failing in its aim to break what for many can be a ‘revolving door’ of crisis and crime.

On 14th September, Revolving Doors Agency gave evidence to the Work & Pensions Committee as part of their inquiry into employment support for ex-offenders.

Proposed changes to the way that supported housing rent is met would have placed many services and the hundreds of thousands of people who use them at risk. Today, the Government has announced measures that will provide some reassurance.

Today the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee has issued a report on homelessness, the result of a wide ranging inquiry aimed at getting to the heart of the problems behind an increase in all forms of homelessness. The recommendations include a reform of homelessness legislation, and increased supply of affordable housing.

In what has been a tumultuous three weeks in British politics, beneath the surface some major tectonic plates have been shifting in the realm of criminal justice reform. While these may pale in comparison to the huge shakeups and fall outs across the political spectrum, they are worthy of note – and may in fact prove the start of a major move in policy and practice.

Agnes Hann comments on some of the themes of our recent literature review on peer research, and links it to the progress and debates surrounding peer research in mental health.

Peer researcher Lisa comments on some of the themes of our recent literature review on peer research: such as the personal benefits to peer researchers, breaking down boundaries between professionals and service users; and the importance of using peer research to make change.

These reforms are of interest to Revolving Doors as many people under probation supervision face multiple and complex problems, including poor mental health, that can lead to a revolving door of crisis and crime. This post considers some of the questions raised in the HMI Probation report.

Our CEO reflects on the financial year ahead.

Single homelessness has been rising in England for several years. Rough sleeping, its most visible and harmful manifestation, has doubled since 2010 according to official statistics. A group of experts from a range of backgrounds, convened by Crisis, has come together to look at how homelessness law can be changed to help everyone homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Finding employment can reduce the likelihood of reoffending and help people build a better life for themselves. Six members of Revolving Doors Agency’s national forum, all with recent experience of prison, have spoken about their experience of employment support to an official from the House of Commons Work & Pensions Select Committee.