Study highlights support needs for prison leavers

The Through the Gate service offers intensive, practical support to people on the day of release and in the crucial period afterwards when the risk of re-offending is high if basics such as somewhere to live and an income are not in place. Specialist supoort workers - many of whom are ex-offenders trained by St Giles Trust - meet clients at the prison gate and handhold them through the process of finding somewhere to live, sorting out benefits, help finding training or a job and generally easing the transition back into the community.

Since its start last August, the London Probation funded service has worked with over 1,000 individuals and successfully housed over 800. There have been just 34 known recalls to prison. The evaluation, carried out by consultants Graham Park Consulting, examined outcomes over the first six months of the project and carried out interviews with clients, caseworkers and probation officers.

Feedback both from clients and probation was extremely positive. One 45-year old man said of his experiences, "Just having someone there to meet you outside the gates, a friendly face... Because I'm pretty sure that... if he wasn't there... I would have found myself the nearest off licence and got meself some beers. If I'd no one outside... the chances are I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you now."

Through the Gates currently works with prisoners returning to 14 London boroughs. Full copies of the report can be obtained by clicking on the link under the 'related media' section on the right hand side of this page or emailing info@stgilestrust.org.uk