Member News: St Christopher’s Fellowship appointed as provider for London Accommodation Pathfinder

​St Christopher’s is to be the service provider for an innovative new alternative to remand in custody for young males aged 16-18 in London

Accommodation and specialist support services will form part of a new initiative between London councils, the Youth Justice Board supported by the Ministry of Justice from late 2022.  New supported accommodations  for young people will be created in London providing psychologically informed environments and targeted specialist support including education, support and therapy to prevent the disproportionate representation in the youth justice system of young males aged 16/17 from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds enabling them to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

St Christopher’s who will be delivering the pilot supported accommodations  and will work closely with Youth Justice Services, and community and mental wellbeing services to offer intensive holistic support for vulnerable young males who are risk of custody. Young males will progress their independent living skills to return to the community with greater awareness of personal safety and the risks associated with offending behaviours supporting their stake and individual contribution to society.

The core aims of the initiative are to improve the outcomes for young males leaving custody and to prevent male children going into custody – by virtue of an alternative sustainable community based model. Accommodation and extended support in the community will be in place for each individual, in a bid to reduce the criminalisation of care experienced young males, those on the edge of care and or exposed to the youth justice system.

Matthew Knights, strategic development manager of the London Accommodation Pathfinder outlined:

“We will create an environment where trauma and the psychological needs of the children are understood and supported and whereby children have a sense of identity and achievement through targeted interventions during their journey through the LAP”

For more details on the London Accommodation Pathfinder please review the recent Youth Justice service August Bulletin

Source:
www.stchris.org.uk

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