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The Phoenix Projects provide specialise support for adult women in the criminal justice system as they transition from prison to serving a sentence in the community.

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We recognise that pathways into offending for women are often different to that of men because of the abuse, harm and exploitation they experience, and their sentences are often harsher.

The work in prison is delivered as part of the Ministry of Justice women's services contract that is led by Ingeus, CFO Evolution.

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Offering love, hope and freedom in the form of gender, trauma informed and holistic support to women involved in the criminal justice system, in prison and through the gate into their local communities. Through building relationships of safety and trust, our engagement seeks to address the barriers and stigmatisation women face to ensure reintegration into the places that they live and belong.

 

Working with the women and in partnership with Coventry University we have developed our SAGE Programme (trauma and gender informed Solution Focused Brief Intervention therapy). Delivering SAGE is core to the work we undertake as the programme helps to building emotional resilience and develop new problem-solving behaviours.

 

As well as undertaking Sage and working through the 5 Pillars of Trauma Informed Support (Safety, Trust, Choice, Collaboration and Empowerment) we support women to overcome the barriers and stigma that hold them back by addressing practical issues such as developing life skills and navigating statutory services. We deliver in five community hubs across the Northeast, in Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Darlington and Middlesbrough. We also deliver in custodial settings.

 

​​​​In the community is delivered as part of the Ministry of Justice women's services contract in Cleveland that is led by Changing Lives.

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The women are referred by probation to complete up to seven pathways which include:

  • Accommodation

  • Emotional Wellbeing

  • Finance Benefits and Debt

  • Education and Employment

  • Dependency and Recovery

  • Family and Significant Others

  • Lifestyles and Associates

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We support women to attend professional appointments and court appearances.

 

The team provides trauma informed and gender informed, shame sensitive, strength-based group work and one to one support.

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Aim to empower women to make significant changes that will allow them to move past previous offending and lead an offense free future for themselves and their families.

CC was referred in to the community team for help with accommodation, finance, debt and benefit.  One of the outcomes of the latter was to secure a source of income as CC has 3 children and was keen to set a good example to them and show them that their mum can go to work and earn a living.

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We are still working on accommodation with CC, but CC also disclosed that it is her dream to be able to carry out body piercing as a career.

 

The team worked with CC and sourced a company in Durham that did a one-day training session that teaches how to do body piercing and provides advice and help on how to set up insurance and a persons own business. CC also sourced a room in a local tattoo parlour in her home town who will allow her to hire once she is qualified.

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An application for funding towards the course and equipment was granted through the Smallwood Grant Funding.​​

CC has completed the course and has started her new career!

Updated November 2024

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