Supported by The Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund, Peer Circles is a peer support project helping severely disadvantaged people to overcome multiple barriers to access training, volunteering and employment opportunities.Peer Circles offers practical and emotional help to reduce social isolation, build skills and confidence, and work towards employment.The project is specifically aimed at people who are highly marginalised and need help to address multiple and complex… Show more Supported by The Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund, Peer Circles is a peer support project helping severely disadvantaged people to overcome multiple barriers to access training, volunteering and employment opportunities.Peer Circles offers practical and emotional help to reduce social isolation, build skills and confidence, and work towards employment.The project is specifically aimed at people who are highly marginalised and need help to address multiple and complex issues. These could include homelessness, a history of offending, substance misuse issues and difficulties engaging with mainstream services.A key strength of Peer Circles is using specially trained individuals known as Peer Advisors to offer help. They have first-hand experience of overcoming disadvantages themselves and really understand what their clients are going through.This is a partnership project involving leading organisations in their fields – St Giles Trust, and Housing Evolve Housing + Support, Shelter, and Warrior Programme. Each organisation brings its own key strengths to the project for the benefit of the people it helps.Peer Circles works across London and will bring positive benefits to other organisations and local communities through its impact. Show less

Peer Circles

St Giles Star Bar Award winner July 2013IOM practionerLiaise with partner agencies, other St Giles Trust teams and referral organisations to identify and receive referrals to the project. Market and co-ordinate activities to promote the project and recruit a sufficient number of appropriate clients. Carry out initial and full assessments and guidance sessions and work with clients to produce realistic action plans. Engage clients in activities to help them progress towards… Show more St Giles Star Bar Award winner July 2013IOM practionerLiaise with partner agencies, other St Giles Trust teams and referral organisations to identify and receive referrals to the project. Market and co-ordinate activities to promote the project and recruit a sufficient number of appropriate clients. Carry out initial and full assessments and guidance sessions and work with clients to produce realistic action plans. Engage clients in activities to help them progress towards employment, further training or volunteering via a range of methods.Organise and deliver one to one and group activities for clients on topics such as life skills, confidence building and employability.Make appropriate referrals where required to improve clients’ future prospects in employment, further learning or volunteering, which may include housing or benefit supportresponsible for a caseload of clients, providing a quality service and reviewing their progress and achieving profiled targets.Support clients with the transition into work, further training or volunteering and provide on-going support to help them maintain and progress.Develop ongoing relationships with employers and potential partner agencies to open up opportunities for clients and share with colleagues and clients in a timely manner.Support the Project Manager in the compliance of Matrix standards and work continuously to improve the quality and effectiveness of the centre, service and resources.Maintain accurate client records Provide regular statistics and reports and collect evidence of clients’in line with the funding requirements.Provide day to day support to peer advisors attached to the project, including shadowing, coaching and casework guidance.Develop and maintain positive and professional working relationships with all members of staff at St Giles TrustActively assist in the implementation of the Trusts’ policies and procedures to help meet the project targets Show less

Working with Trustee boardhelping to build safer communities and brighter futures across Dorset and Hampshire. Giving vital support to vulnerable people who’ve been impacted by prison and the criminal justice system. https://www.footprintsproject.co.uk/

Working with the Board of Trustees to ensure Standout delivers their vision of people leaving prison are empowered to transform their own lives, realise their potential, and escape the justice system for good.Standout does that through intensive programmes for people inside prison, followed by 1:1 coaching and holistic support after release for as long as required.

The Fellowship was created as a means to celebrate, recognise and form a group of passionate, influential professionals from within the sector for the sector.

Sept 2012 to Sept 2015: advisory board memberJan 2012 to Feb 2014: Social media coordination on 3 twitter account reaching over 10000 people with interest in criminal justice with access to 2800 Practitioner s on no-offence forum and over 6000 professionals in Linkedin groups and subgroupsJune 2011 to Jan 2013: moderating volunteering and peer mentoring forum updating and keeping up to date with occurrences within and around the criminal justice sectornetworking and promoting the… Show more Sept 2012 to Sept 2015: advisory board memberJan 2012 to Feb 2014: Social media coordination on 3 twitter account reaching over 10000 people with interest in criminal justice with access to 2800 Practitioner s on no-offence forum and over 6000 professionals in Linkedin groups and subgroupsJune 2011 to Jan 2013: moderating volunteering and peer mentoring forum updating and keeping up to date with occurrences within and around the criminal justice sectornetworking and promoting the use of No-OffenceCIC online forumbroad experience in organising eventspromoting and marketing by way of Facebook and several twitter accounts) Creating and presenting Open Space workshops at 1st No-Offence conferencefacilitation and social media coordination at conferences Show less

April 2012 to Oct 2013: Deliver mentor training to prospective mentors to diverse groupsMay 2010 to June 2012: active participant in steering groups Sept 2009- Sept 2012: created & updated website

2012- April 13 Deputy Manager/IOM practionor/ Tutor/Volunteer coordinator/Caseworker2012-to 2013 member of Hackney IOM unit compiling data for various funders using in house database when required2008-2013 Liaise and set up engagements & opportunitiesMake and maintain professional relationships with probation, other offender related organisations and training providersSet up appointments for Initial Assessments/ action planscompleting action plans and inputting… Show more 2012- April 13 Deputy Manager/IOM practionor/ Tutor/Volunteer coordinator/Caseworker2012-to 2013 member of Hackney IOM unit compiling data for various funders using in house database when required2008-2013 Liaise and set up engagements & opportunitiesMake and maintain professional relationships with probation, other offender related organisations and training providersSet up appointments for Initial Assessments/ action planscompleting action plans and inputting appropriate data into the database with regard to clients’ needs and goalsPresenting options to clients and empowering them to chooseLiaising with others using different social media toolsApply for funding for clients to go on courses and help with grants for utilitiesRecruiter of Volunteers, Volunteer coordination covering for staff when on leave or sickcomplete client’s records to include eligibility documents, assessment forms and ILPCreate learning resources, Assessing clients learning stylesCreating scheme of work, lesson plans, Making Tea/Coffee2010-2011 PPO caseworker, Member of Hackney criminal justice DAAT forum, HMP Wormwood Scrubs chaplaincy steering committee 2008-2011 Taking initial assessmentsTeaching Adults Literacy and Numeracy one to one and using learn direct diagnosticFacilitate and teach ESOL sessions 2006-2008 Learning support assistant within HMP the Mount, Race relations prisoner representative/spokesperson/ foreign national’s prisoner representative/ToebyToe Tutor   Making Tea/Coffee Show less

Secretary and Prisoner spokesperson for Race Relations team present valid disussion points to monthly governor meetinghelped organise and facilate embassies to attend open daysfacilitated the reporting of race complaintsthrough lobbying governors improved several services for all prisoners.Working and representing 63 different nationalities inside HMP The Mount