“I am so grateful for the help of you and Wonder+ – I would not have got through this and got my life back on track without you.” – Client feedback.
Women have often been disproportionately affected by rising costs and poverty in recent years. The number of women we support has steadily increased – 30% of all the new clients we supported last financial year (April 23-March 24) identified as female.
We provide services delivered by female workers that address the specific issues women face. The work is trauma-informed and delivered in a culturally competent way within the community and custody setting. Many of the women entering our services are in highly vulnerable circumstances, have complex needs and unaddressed issues such as: homelessness, poor mental health, substance misuse, are survivors of domestic abuse, have experienced exploitation, poverty, have disabilities; and maybe caught in a cycle of being involved in the criminal justice system.
About Wonder+
One of our key projects in the East of England is Wonder+, which offers support for vulnerable women, aged 18+ who have been involved in, or are on the cusp of being involved in the criminal justice system in the last 12 months. The team provides holistic care, including advice, guidance and support to move women away from a cycle of involvement in the criminal justice system. They work to address the root causes of their offending and ultimately make them safe.
Our caseworkers offer unbiased and confidential advice and guidance to help address any underlying issues holding women back from progressing in their lives. The team works with the client to build a plan to help with both practical and emotional needs, assisting the women in securing stable accommodation, managing debts, and access specialist support through partner organisations with issues around addiction, abuse, and health.
The team also encourages women to take steps towards improving their well-being through healthier eating, exercise, and reducing isolation. The ultimate aim is to support women holistically, enhancing their confidence and skills; enabling them to become independent and allowing for a pathway of positive social mobility.
From April 2023-March 2024, Wonder+ received 313 referrals, mostly from PICs, Voluntary & Community and Health Services. The pathway has also broadened to include internal referrals to and from The Magdalen Street Pantry. (You can read more about our Pantry Network here: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/what-we-do/tackling-poverty/st-giles-pantry/) It is also worth noting that during this period, an additional 83 referrals were received from Project ADDER (which stands for: Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) through a dedicated worker with specialist expertise in supporting women struggling with addiction.
WONDER+ continues to grow year by year. It is now recognised as a valuable resource in court processes and holds a positive reputation as a resource that diverts women from the criminal justice system.
“Our client group finds it very difficult to trust professionals within the criminal justice system, such as police and probation; they automatically put themselves in defence mode and only say what they feel they should. With WONDER+, they can be honest in their experience. The majority of the women receiving support have been victims of a crime, which has resulted in their offending behaviours. Providing a trauma-informed approach to the underlying reasonings enables the team to build a crucial rapport to identify support needs and understand them as an individual. Being flexible with this support is vital to their journey, and knowing St Giles is there for them is invaluable.”
“I would not have had the courage to go and report this to the police if it wasn’t for you; I felt heard today.” – Client feedback.
“Today, I can see that my confidence has increased since working with Wonder+; I can see how my relationships have improved with my family” – Client feedback.
“I am grateful to be, at long last, receiving some excellent support from Wonder+. My Caseworker is easy to speak to, and it is clear by her actions and comments that she is an extremely good listener. Her own life experience endows her in an empathetic manner. I have found it easy to trust her (this is something I do not do easily); she always completes any commitments she makes. She is direct and to the point, this I admire. Her court support has been invaluable to me. She has a good knowledge of the court procedures. She was especially helpful when consulting with the barrister. Indeed, he used a comment she used in court, and I believe that this had a part to receiving a more favourable outcome. Finally, it is nice to know that she is there to support me and assist me in making better choices.” – Client feedback.
Wonder+ is currently funded by the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC.)