Calico helps ex-offenders Re-Connect

Staff and agencies involved in Calico's Pennine Re-Connect programme, which helps ex-offenders and substance abusers, have come together to celebrate the initiative's myriad achievements
Amanda Carter, Pennine Re-connect Support Officer; Sam McConnel, Burnley Borough Council; Clive Grunshaw, PPC; Derek Kettlewell, Head of New Business Development The Calico Group.Amanda Carter, Pennine Re-connect Support Officer; Sam McConnel, Burnley Borough Council; Clive Grunshaw, PPC; Derek Kettlewell, Head of New Business Development The Calico Group.
Amanda Carter, Pennine Re-connect Support Officer; Sam McConnel, Burnley Borough Council; Clive Grunshaw, PPC; Derek Kettlewell, Head of New Business Development The Calico Group.

The success of the programme - a partnership initiative of Calico Enterprise and Calico Homes with funding from Burnley Borough Council and Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner - was celebrated on Wednesday, March 8th, as clients shared their journeys.

Pennine Re-connect works with clients who present significant offending and substance misuse histories, referred into the project via an accommodation panel; they may be homeless, on release from prison, or have underlying substance misuse issues.

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The celebration event allowed some of the clients to share their journeys, from where they were before Pennine Re-connect, and where they are now. All of the clients are now either in employment, volunteering, or attending college; all are sustaining tenancies and maintain their own homes.

Speaking for Pennine Re-connect, Calico’s Karen Henderson said: “It was great to see our customers at the celebration event, sharing stories and showing us how far they have come, achieving major milestones with the help of their key worker and partner agencies.

"I hope the event has provided our commissioners and funders the opportunity to see the impact this service has on lives and how - by investing - they are making a valuable contribution to the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour,” she added.

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw said: "I'm impressed. It's clear that good accommodation along with a great support system is key to addressing a reduction of crime, re-offending, and anti-social behaviour.

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"This scheme doesn't happen everywhere in Lancashire, but hopefully because of its effectiveness, this can be a model that can grow elsewhere," he continued. "One of my key priorities is tackling re-offending; Pennine Re-connect will help turn people's lives around and prevent them from re-entering the criminal justice system."

Funding for the programme will cease at the end of September 2017 and Pennine Re-connect is looking to secure further funding to continue delivering the valuable and life changing service.

For more information on Pennine Re-connect please contact Karen Henderson on 01282 686 364.