Community justice charities get government cash boost
Charities working to reduce reoffending will benefit from £1 million new Scottish Government funding over the next year.
The investment will support four charities to continue delivering a range of specialist services for offenders and their families, helping to end the cycle of reoffending.
Apex Scotland, SACRO, Families Outside and Positive Prison? Positive Futures support people to address the underlying issues which fuel crime, such as housing, healthcare, employment, welfare, alcohol and substance abuse services.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Scotland’s has already made strong progress on tackling reoffending – a key goal of this government’s justice strategy – with reconviction rates at its lowest level for 16 years and recorded crime at a 41 year low.
“I have set out my a vision for a Scotland where people are held to account for their offending and are then given the opportunity to change their lives and become active members of society.
“That is why we are committed to supporting a sustainable and innovative third sector to work with offenders.
"This new funding will help deliver a wide range of projects to enable individuals turn their live around and support families affected by the justice system.”
We are committed to supporting a sustainable and innovative third sector
The Scottish Government allocates over a £100 million funding each year to community justice authorities and third sector organisations to help to deliver community sentences, support the rehabilitation of offenders and reduce re-offending.
Prof Nancy Loucks OBE, chief executive of Families Outside added: “Families Outside is grateful to the Scottish Government for the continued support it provides towards our work in supporting children and families affected by imprisonment.
“The grant for the coming year will allow us to continue to offer support and information to one of the most vulnerable and overlooked groups of people in our society. With the impact of imprisonment stretching across housing, finance, health, child wellbeing, and more, this support prevents longer-term problems for children and families as well as for the person returning from prison.”
