Plan B Idea

Even though our group really liked the idea of using the New Directions Mentoring Programme for our documentary, we still wasn't sure if they would let us/be interested in us doing a documentary about them.

The other idea we came up with was to look into how ex-prisoners teach younger people to not get into trouble.

Here is an article I found on ex-prisoners teaching.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/joepublic/2011/sep/19/youth-justice-ex-prisoners-teaching

Even though this article isn't recent we thought it was still a good Plan B to go with, as I haven't seen a documentary made on something like this before.

I found a charity called, 'Refocus' that are trying to prevent crime in Kent and the South East in London by having talks from ex offenders.

"Refocus is a charity that operates as a community crime prevention service in counties of Kent and the South East of London. Refocus is a service that recruits ex-offenders who have been there and done it and now want to put something back into the community as a restorative justice approach. Refocus mentors, coaches, counsels, rehabilitates, trains and supports ex-offenders to allow them to reach their full potential. Our training incorporates both youth work and teaching so that our workers are always engaging with young people in a professional manner."

Services provided:

- Interventions
- Life skill packages
- Prison visits
- Training programmes for professionals
- Targeted intensive programmes
- Support and provide education to parents and carers
- Mentoring
- Coach training and employment

They also work with schools as well as youth clubs, faith groups, community centres, prisons and children homes.

Outcomes:

In 2011-2012 partner services stated that out of the 1500 young people who experienced Refocus talks, mentoring and/or prison visits:

- 40% of these young people have rethought their actions
- 8% move away from their old environments
- At least 6 % go back into college or school
- 15% never go back to smoking cannabis
- 2% stop drinking and are referred for help with anger issues
- 10% asked for help and are referred by Refocus or partner agencies to other services addressing a wide variety of issues that may have arisen such as sexual abuse, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, knife crime, gang crime and other family problems

Website - www.refocusproject.org.uk