https://www.creatingfutureopportunities.gov.uk/

Creating Future Opportunities, HMPPS CFO, 1100 Daresbury Park, Daresbury (2026)

08/12/2023

Participants at the Birmingham CFO Activity Hub were thrilled to witness the long-awaited launch of ‘Second Chance Cuts’ this week!

Second Chance Cuts is in an in-Hub barber shop which is led by participants, upskilling them and increasing employability prospects, which helps to reduce reoffence.

A barbering teacher from HMP Oakwood attended the CFO Activity Hub initially to help participants to launch the shop, with handy tips and expertise available first hand. From there, participants were ready to start trimming!

Grant* was one of the first to take part, and has been providing brilliant haircuts to fellow participants - all of which is free of charge, easing the burden on participants who are wanting to live better in the community.

Not only does this help Grant* then, it also helps his peers to feel more confidence and self-worth, motivating them to engage with other CFO and mainstream activities. It can also offer a feel fresh-start-feeling, empowering them on their rehabilitative journey in the community.

24/11/2023

In line with the American tradition of Thanksgiving, we wanted to share some of the thankful comments from our participants across the CFO programmes. The activities these participants have engaged with have helped to reduce re-offence through increase social inclusion and self-worth, upskilling and positive future prospects.

Walter* worked with the Leicester CFO Activity Hub to increase his self-esteem and prospects. After building rapport with his Support Worker, he would be confident enough to complete an employability course, which moved him closer to his goal of achieving employment. Walter* was able to create his first ever CV and learned how to navigate job sites in order to narrow down a suitable role for himself.

Walter* was thrilled with the support he received, and shocked at how helpful the Hub was, saying: “The support was just incredible and surreal. You had time for me and were genuine in helping me. You have encouraged me to write down all the jobs which I applied for the dates I applied for them. You taught me if I do not hear back from them in 2 weeks to call and ask for an update.” This was a key way in which Walters*’s Support Worker helped overcome issues around his neurodiversity, and allowed him to feel more organised and in control of himself.

“I am just amazed in all honesty! I still cannot believe I had an actual company ring me back and get a job, like a full-time job!” he continued to say.

"I just want to thank you and spread the good work and services at the CFO Activity Hub. I feel as if my own personal community have given up but no I have found a new community and feel positive."

Likewise, on the CFO3 programme, Taylor* was assisted in getting herself back on track, securing employment and being a strong role model for her two children.

Taylor* would be assisted in identifying career goals – the real turning point however, would be drug and alcohol awareness course and understanding self-esteem courses. This gave Taylor* the chance to address her barriers directly and changed her mindset, giving her a new level of self-belief. She felt the courses came at the exact right time for her, and changed how she felt about both herself and her future. She would go on to secure a voluntary role thanks to the support of her CFO3 Case Worker, and eventually landed full-time employment.

Signing off from the course, she said: “My Case Worker is very knowledgeable, empathetic, reassuring and considerate. I was provided with helpful support, advice and guidance, with thorough support that was consistent and relevant to my situation. I was treated more like an individual and felt my learning journey was tailored to my specific needs, needs that were met successfully and as promised.

I have loved volunteering with Homegroup, I’ve enjoyed all my great opportunities and you’ve been incredibly supportive and encouraging all the way through, I couldn’t thank you enough.”

12/11/2023

Wishing the happiest of Diwali celebrations to everyone celebrating Diwali today, not least the participants and staff across CFO!

For many the 'festival of lights' honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Lamps are lit and windows and doors are left open to help Lakshmi find her way into people's homes.

10/11/2023

When Rory* first attended the CFO Activity Hub in Liverpool he had low self-esteem and deep feelings of shame due to the stigma surrounding his offence. However, upon engaging with the Hub, he found a supportive community which would help with his rehabilitation journey.

A large part of his success story revolved around the life skills training programme ran at the Hub - this advanced Rory*’s budgeting, time management, conflict resolution and communication skills. Rory* would previously become overwhelmed by complexities of daily living, but the course helped him feel more in control of his own path.

Being a older gentlemen, Rory* had been hampered by frequent housing issues throughout his life. thanks to the Liverpool CFO Activity Hub he was able to work with an expert in housing law, who taught him through the process of finding suitable living, and his housing rights. With this support, Rory* was able to successfully secure suitable accommodation, eliminating a massive barrier in his journey to not re-offend and giving him a newfound sense of independence and stability.

Rory* would also enjoy engaging with the daily activities at the CFO Activity Hub, allowing him to spend positive time with his peers and boosting his self-worth. Art sessions in particular served as a positive outlet for Rory*, providing him a new passion! He has since seen his artwork be displayed in exhibitions, which has helped him feel like a valued member of his local society.

City walks also opened up a new world to him, learning about the history of Liverpool and encouraging him to perform some physical exercise.

Rory*’s journey is one of massive growth, showcasing the many different advantages of the CFO Activity Hub in helping to reduce re-offence and help participants feel like they belong in the community.

07/11/2023

Across the CFO programmes participants celebrated Halloween over the past week!

At the Telford TEC (Training and Employment Centre), the office was adorned with Halloween themed decorations and spooky snacks, which served as an interesting backdrop for their Stress Awareness course.

Many CFO Activity Hubs got into the spirit too!

The Leicester CFO Activity Hub saw participants using their newfound woodworking skills, one of the many upskilling activities at the Hub, to create a Halloween fireplace which was the centrepiece of the Hub’s decorations.

Mindfulness and cooking activities also had a spooky twist to them, which participants found to be therapeutic, and they also did some pumpkin carving and t-shirt designing as a group session - all were well attended and helped participants feel included with the Hub’s community.

Over in the Stafford CFO Activity Hub a group of participants took part in some Halloween cooking, creating meals that they would be able to replicate in their own time and improving on independent living skills.

The Yorkshire and Humber CFO Activity Hubs celebrated with arts and crafts, quizzes, and writing poems and spooky stories, whilst in the North East the Hubs were given a haunting facelift with the spaces being decorated with participant-made crafts.

These activities help to reduce reoffence by building participants’ confidence and self worth, allowing them to spend positive time away from negative influences and give them new skills.

10/10/2023

World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.

It’s also a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.

CFO programmes offer a wide variety of interventions which both directly and indirectly support positive mental health. Participants can be referred to professional services that support their mental health positivity, whilst working on employability with CFO3, or wraparound support at their local CFO Activity Hub.

Some prime examples include music, media and drama – not least from Unlock Drama. They specialise in delivering drama workshops across the prison estate as well as in a community setting. Participants have been wholly positive about Unlock Drama, with Chris* saying: "When Unlock came in at the beginning of the week I didn't want to get involved and my confidence was low but by the end of the week I rated myself an 8 in confidence. I can't wait to have them back at the Hub!"

Wellbeing walks and community projects also have positive mental health impact. These activities represent a chance to feel more integrated with local areas and have positive conversations with peers.

Some CFO Activity Hubs even have dedicated activities to tackle mental health issues. For example, in Manchester the team run their ‘Men’s Matters’ group every Monday, Yorkshire and Humber Hubs are regularly visited from ‘Andy’s Man Club’ and the Hastings CFO Activity Hub's mental health group, ‘A Band of Brothers’ has had a massive impact participants, improving their emotional wellbeing and putting them more in touch with their own self.

These are just some of the many activities which participants can take part in to improve their mental health with CFO, which can often be one of the first challenges to overcome on the rehabilitation journey.

04/10/2023

Today is World Dyslexia Awareness Day!

CFO participants typically has a reading age of between 7 and 11 years old, with many suffering from dyslexia and other neurodiverse issues which affect reading comprehension.

CFO programmes help participants with dyslexia to upskill themselves, building confidence in their abilities and aiding the rehabilitative journey.
Whether help is needed with a CV, simply filling out a form, or understanding a written piece, CFO staff are able to assist.

For example, in our CFO3 Training and Employment Centres, dyslexia pens can be used to help reading, and in CFO Activity Hubs Support Workers will happily make adjustments for participants who need it.

To make a referral to a CFO programme, please visit our website here: Contact CFO – HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities

02/10/2023

Elliot* chose to work with CFO3 as he wanted to get on with his live and embrace a more positive outlook.

After meeting with his Case Manager, and reviewing his potential options, Elliot* set his sights on completing a CSCS course in the community. He thought in doing this, he would be able to gain employment and have a qualification under his belt, reducing the likelihood of re-offence.

With his Case Manager, Elliot* set achievable goals, wanting to work on his communication techniques in particular.

As such, he was enrolled onto a Reach For Success course. This would help to improve his self-esteem, making him more open to others. It also taught him how best to interact with peers in a professional manner, which would help him in potential interviews. This would be a huge breakthrough for Elliot*, making him optimistic about his prospects.

Being supported with his travel costs, Elliot* would attend the CSCS course, securing his Level 1 CSCS card! Being job ready he worked with the Employer Engagement Manger to source appropriate vacancies.

Thanks to his new found confidence and communication abilities, Elliot* has secured work in the construction field and is looking forward to continued career progress.

29/09/2023

Following on from the success of their ‘Beyond Bars’ event earlier this year, the West Midlands CFO Activity Hubs recently hosted an Open Mic event at the Birmingham CFO Activity Hub.

Presented by Making Chance Studios, participants from Stoke, Wolverhampton and Birmingham bravely took the stage to share their talents and stories, challenging societal perceptions and inspiring those in attendance.

Performances included music, poetry and live podcasting.

During the live podcast, the participants spoke candidly about the mistakes they had made, the remorse they felt, and the determination to lead meaningful lives. The vulnerability and confidence showed by the participants in the live podcast was a particular standout. Many would not have dreamed of appearing in front of a live audience when they first attended the Hub, showing how far they have come.

One participant who came to watch the show said: “The performances are amazing, to listen to other people's stories makes me feel less alone.”

Another said: “I've thoroughly enjoyed the Open Mic event, I can't wait for the next one!”

25/09/2023

Tuesday's Women's Morning was very busy at the Chatham CFO Activity Hub!

The women were all grandmothers and elected to decorate mini teacup sets for their grandchildren whilst having positive conversations about their experiences of becoming grandmothers.

All the women were very supportive of one another, commenting that the Support Workers created a safe and welcoming environment for the women - each of them stayed for the whole three hour session, as the Women’s Morning goes from strength to strength in Chatham.

22/09/2023

The Dudley Pop-Up CFO Activity Hub has been focusing on mindfulness techniques and yoga over the past few weeks, to help participants find a better way to connect and communicate with one another. Staff asked participants to engage in mindfulness and yoga to take them away from their mobile phones and bring them in to the present moment - engagement has been high, and a big success!

Participants in Dudley have enjoyed yoga sessions and mindfulness sessions on a weekly basis with other relaxation activities including practising meditation, making pottery, rock painting and gardening.

Once participant, George*, said: “I have enjoyed the meditation and yoga sessions as I can take what I have learnt away with me and practice at home which gives me something productive to do rather than sit on my phone or watch TV, which is what I always do as I don’t have access to a garden.”

Lee* echoed the positivity by saying: “It takes me out of my comfort zone, but in to another type of comfort zone where I feel welcome and relaxed.”

Creating Future Opportunities

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