SOVA Newsletter

Success Story

Success stories are sometimes hard to come by, especially when dealing with Young Offenders, but if we focus on small changes then the success and development of young people passing our way become more obvious.

One Young Person in particular who comes to mind is Danny. He was 15 years old when I first met him. A rather shy young man who on our first visit to McDonalds asked "Do I have to eat it all?". Needless to say my actions answered that question for him.
Danny changed from that shy young man to being more confident but also a more persistent offender. Danny had a number of problems with his home background but was essentially a decent kid who hated going to school (something many of us can relate to). At the end of the relationship Danny was offending less often but his problems persisted.
I have not seen Danny for a while but I did come across a beat officer who worked the patch where Danny 'hung out'. Without any prompting from me the officer volunteered the information that he had not seen Danny for a good six months and that he no longer seemed to be offending.  This was confirmed when a few weeks later I saw Danny in the town centre. He had got himself a job and a girlfriend (it is amazing how a good woman can calm a person down). Danny never has any thoughts of offending and is enjoying life in a positive way. I claim no credit for this, just reporting a happy event.

Volunteer Mentor
Derby

Mentoring - Rewarding Experiences 

The following are some rewarding experiences with clients from DERBY COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP ( N.B. Initials have been used instead of names at individuals request).

There can be such a feeling of achievement with ordinary activities.  I took S to climb Thorpe Cloud in Dovedale.  She wasnt enthusiastic about the countryside; she thought there would be nothing there to interest her.  I persuaded her that it would great, all that fresh air and exercise and seeing what animals and plants we may friend.  She decided to humour me I think.

Climbing Thorpe Cloud unleashed a very competitive spirit.  It was great to see her laughing and shouting as she scrambled to the top.  All that fresh air and exercise gave us a great appetite for her favourite food. You guessed it McDonalds!

When I had picked S up she was quiet, when I dropped her off home, she was bubbly and full of energy.  I think the feeling you get, if you can put a smile on someone's face is great!

K

My name is C and I have been mentoring with SOVA for just over 2 years.  Believe me I have seen some changes as well.

I have just started mentoring a young person of 11 years old and his name is M.  At first I found it really difficult as M is so young, but what M really needs is some stability in his life as, like his two brothers, he no longer lives at home with his parents.  M is currently in a family centre which houses children from approximately 8 to 12 years and unfortunately come the summer he will have to be moved to another home.  At the moment we have only been out about 5 times but we try to do a different activity each week, which is why I am writing to you.

I always try to attend the monthly meetings, not only to meet the other volunteers but also to try and get some new ideas, but lately over the last few meetings the turn out has been really poor.  I realise that people have other commitments and find it difficult to attend, or the relationship between mentor and the young person is going really well and you feel that you don't need the support at the time, but I feel that they really help.
Alan and Kelly are at the meetings as well to discuss any fears or questions you may have about the mentoring, and also with other volunteers there you may get valuable feed back relating to similar circumstances with your young person.  I see it as an on-going training meeting as there is always something you may not know or want to share with people.  The speakers that Alan and Kelly invite do not usually talk for long and sometimes not only help with training but also you may learn something you never knew aside from mentoring.  This really is an appeal for anybody to come up with any ideas that they would like to see at the meetings or any feedback as to why you don't think they are necessary.  Should the meetings perhaps take place elsewhere when there isn't a speaker present?

On a lighter note I have come up with an idea that could be useful and also involve your young person.  I am hoping to create an activates booklet including the times, prices and directions (if necessary) of activities and also feedback from yourselves and your young person (stating there first name and age).  I feel that this would help not only existing volunteers like myself, but for new volunteers to get ideas and comments as to the activity and the age it is suitable for.  Your young person would be able to read all the comments from other young people that have been there.  Who knows, we may find things in Derby that we never knew existed.

C

Clive's young person, Daniel, has a very keen interest in animals and Clive was wondering how to develop this interest when he came across a leaflet giving details of the RSPCA.

The RSPCA on Abby Street has a new manager who is willing to give up time to show people around. On entering the RSPCA we were overwhelmed by the amount of tinned dog & cat food.

First point of call was the cat section. Each cat had a separate cage and on the front a brief description of what had happened to the cat, its disposition and what would be an ideal home for it. Next the piece de resistance: the reptiles and in particular the Rat Snake. The beast eats rats and is fed once a week. Finally to the dog section. Dogs of all shapes and breeds. They deafened us with their barking, so much so that ear mufflers had to be worn. The two star attractions in this section were a fighting dog from Japan and Connie with her 10 puppies recovering from illness. That brought our tour to an end.

So what did we learn? We saw undergraduates in veterinary medicine on their hands and knees scrubbing the floors and realised that it takes a lot of human effort from people of all walks of life to help out.

Clive Topley

The support M got from his mentor C was the main reason he turned himself around. Even now about 10 months after they met, M still values his relationship with C. C was able to help and advise M with various issues including job applications and tax forms.

K

My first mentee while working for SOVA was a lad called Matt, a very affable and charming 17 year old.  He had missed a large chunk of his education and had got into trouble mainly due to peer pressure and a tendency to follow rather than lead.  The first month went fairly well.  Matt got himself a job and was fairly settled living with his grandparents.  He wasn't in contact with his mum which turned out to be a bigger issue than I initially thought.  At the start of the second month Matt started making excuses for missing meetings and then disappeared down to London to seek out his mother.  At that stage his grandparents had thrown him out due to attitude and trust problems.  He came back to Derby, slept rough for a couple of days and was then found a room in a local hostel.  After a period of 3 weeks we resumed meetings, I would pick Matt up from outside the hostel.  This was I feel a pivotal period in Matt's life and I would like to think that during this period of about 3 months, I provided some stability, common sense and steered him towards a more mature attitude. Matt got himself back on his feet and his grandparents took him back in.  He has found another job and is seeing his mother on a more regular positive basis.

Mick Doody

When I first meet B, she was a shy young person.  So shy that she hid herself inside her clothes.  B's hat was worn right down to here eye brows and her tops were always high collared or polo neck.  B kept her head down and her chin tucked into her collar.

After a few meetings and we had gotten to know each other, we became more confident.  B has a fantastic sense of humour and we really hit it off.  We did have one 'wobble' when I was winning at ten pin bowling, which B did not like.  I didn't pick up quickly enough B's unhappiness, but was able to calm B down when I realised what was happening.  We apologised to each other and were then able to discuss our mentor/mentee relationship.

At the end of six months of weekly meetings; visiting the R.S.P.C.A centre, playing badminton and window-shopping, B had a new flattering hairstyle, different clothes and make-up.

I really hope B fulfills her ambition of becoming an R.S.P.C.A inspector.  As for me, I'm really glad I was able to boost her confidence.  It made me feel good to know I had a positive effect on a young person.

Sharon 

Some apologies from young people

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How SOVA really helps

I was working with a beneficiary a few months ago (Name supplied), who rang me today. I helped him overcome being bullied in prison and helped him deal with confidence issues and we worked together so that he could apply to college for starting this September. I begged the Offender management Unit to let him out on a Release on temporary Licence, and they agreed. He attended the interview for the course at Coventry City College (city and Guilds in brickwork) and passed the interview, so was offered a place to start this September.

He was also successful in his application to a CAT D prison and went to HMP Hewell Grange earlier this year. He has done well there and phoned me today to say that he was granted parole and is being released on Friday next week and is getting married on the Saturday to his long term partner Sian who is the mum of his 3 year old daughter.
I couldn't be happier for him.

It's amazing that he has all these things to look forward to and it's amazing that SOVA and PS+ helped give Pete these opportunities. He sounded like a new man and had so much energy and enthusiasm. I'm really proud to be doing the job that I'm doing, and feel especially pleased that I can help offenders. It's a great outcome all round.

Cheers
Susan Longman
Key Worker
HMP Ashwell

9/05/2007

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Successes

We are very proud to be able to say that in the last 12 months, in our project here at HMYOI Deerbolt, we have managed to get training for 4 prisoners with the National Grid. They successfully completed this training and are all now released and in full time employment.

We have also had successes with prisoners going out to universities to study law.
Another prisoner did his ECDL on release and is now into employment.

Jackie Wilson
SOVA/HIT programme
HMYOI Deerbolt

9/05/2007

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Thank You Connect Birmingham

Letter from:
St BasiIs (Works with young people)

Date: 9th May 2007
Re: Lee (surname removed)
To whom it May Concern
Lee has been residing at the Boot Project since 30th April 2007 and his duration stay is within 28 days. During this time he has shown great maturity in his day to day conduct at the project and has a willingness to succeed in his desire to live independently and eventually own his own tenancy.
Upon key working, Lee he has made a few action plans in order to do some training in the Plumbing and Labouring trade which he has expressed an interest in. He has been receiving excellent support from his (SOVA) Mentor Debbie based at Connect (IN Birmingham) in relation to his welfare in finding accommodation and exploring training opportunities.
At the time of doing Lee a reference I have not had further opportunity in knowing Lee from the short time he has been here other than seeing he takes great pride in keeping his room tidy and he follows the rules and regulations of the Boot communal living code, and has not crossed any boundaries that would affect his stay at the Boot project.
All I can state that he is in the best of hands from his mentor and so far have been impressed to the support Lee is getting, all other information you can obtain from his mentor
Whilst Lee is waiting for his benefit claim I cannot comment as to how his budget management would be managed at this present time until seeing evidence of this, but as stated before is getting great support from his mentor.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Many Thanks

Azim Salam

Housing Support Worker

9/05/2007