ISIS Update
The first 12 months have been a remarkable success at ISIS with 364 referrals - many women have actively engaged with a number of emotional well-being groups and activities at the centre and have made positive progress in their lives.
Developments in the first year
A key development within our first year of operation has been the establishment of an innovative Female Offender Specified Activity Requirement (FOSAR) which means that the local courts can sentence women to community sentences which include attendance at ISIS. We have worked hard to establish a relationship with local judges and magistrates who are strong supporters of the scheme. The county’s domestic abuse services, legal representation unit, the lead psychiatrist for substance misuse and the Independence Trust all run drop-in sessions and offer appointments at our premises.
In the same building is the Nelson Trust’s Family Focus service, offering therapeutic interventions for families. We have participated in a Home Office funded pilot this year developing a Restorative Justice service for offenders and victims in the county, in partnership with Victim Support and others, and provide volunteering opportunities there for former offenders and recovering addicts.
We have expanded our timetable to ensure we are offering all the support needed to meet our clients’ needs. We are pleased that the centre is being viewed in such a positive way and we are still trying to market ourselves to anyone who may benefit from our service or know someone that would. We have been receiving referrals from many different agencies such as Probation, Social Care, Drug and Alcohol agencies and now with the launch of FOSAR (Female Offenders Specified Activity Requirement) we are receiving referrals from the Courts. We are growing from strength to strength and hope to continue our good practice with vulnerable women at ISIS Women’s Centre.
Thank you
ISIS continues to evolve and develop according to the needs of the women that use the centre. We rely heavily on funding from our donors, without them we would not be in a position set-up and run these services. We couldn’t have done it without enthusiastic support from our many partners and help from local grant making trusts. Thank you to the following Trusts and donors that have made ISIS possible:
The Women’s Diversionary Fund
The Henry Smith’s Charity
Summerfield Trust
Barnwood Trust
HSBC
Clothworkers
Leigh Trust
CHK Charity
14/04/11
Posted on 25/04/2011