Annual Review 2012/13

Carlon during ‘Transitions’; Courtesy of Jonathan Perugia, 2012

Surviving the crisis – Building Resilient Relationships

Who we are and what we do

Our Mission:To promote relationship skills as tools for empowering people to change, so reducing the risk of reoffending and building stronger communities

Our Purpose:To devise skills training and accessible education that encourages engagement and reduces the risk of offending for individuals and groups

To encourage policy makers, families, communities and professionals to be constantly questioning the origins and impact of crime

To influence policy and empower change across the Arts, Education, Prison and Community sectors through high quality service delivery

Our Vision:Inclusive communities connected by shared values and empathy for each other’s experiences

Our core values:People want to do their best

Attitudes and beliefs can change

Relationships are central to personal development

High quality group learning is vital to skills development

People can learn to understand themselves and others better

We all share responsibilities for the safety and well-being of the communities we live in

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Contents

Chair’s Report 4

Executive Director’s Report 5

Key Dates 6

Family Man and Fathers Inside Network 9 Programme Data 10

My experience as a Family Man mentor 11

Evaluation and Research 12

Safe Ground Impact and Input to Policy 14

Not There 15

Transitions 16

Grundtvig Preparatory Visit 19

Events and Communications 20

New Programmes in Development 22 Family Man in the Community 22 Professional Love 23 Man Up 24

Volunteering for Safe Ground 25

Acknowledgements 27

Board 28

Staff 28

Financial Review & Summary of Accounts 30

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Chair’s ReportSince I can remember, Safe Ground has had to contend with the insecurities of not only establishing regular income streams but also changes to The Prison Service, the public sector and political agendas around education, crime and family.

Nevertheless, the last year has also been a period of consolidation for Safe Ground; a time to reflect, prepare and plan for a future that is sustainable and that allows the organisation to concentrate on our core mission, maintain our quality standards and continue to deliver exciting programmes that go some way towards encouraging and enabling people to improve their own lives.

It is a huge satisfaction to report that Safe Ground has not only weathered the somewhat troubling storm that hit us last year; but managed to develop and grow despite it.

We have new income streams, new programmes, new Trustees and many new relationships and opportunities around us. We continue to value the old; our Board members have many years combined service and it is with great sadness that we attended the funeral of one of our colleagues, Maxi Alexander. Maxi was a stalwart of social justice and played a significant role in ensuring Safe Ground was fit for purpose from the very beginning. Her commitment to the work and ethos of the organisation is a legacy we all take very seriously and for which we are hugely grateful. Maxi will be missed by many; her work and contributions continue to have impact on us all.

New life has also been part of the year, not only in the new programmes we have given birth to, but also the arrival of two babies to two of our team.

This has meant we have been able to recruit new staff members, adding to our pool of experience, expertise and enthusiasm at the frontline.

Our funders have demonstrated an enormous commitment and investment in our work; a tribute to the teams efforts at

evidencing our impact and at building and sustaining our relationships.

The trustees have to find the right balance between being “hands on” and supporting the ED and the team in carrying out their work. It is a pleasure to report on their success and that of our volunteers. It is they who steward the organisation’s profile and reputation and it is they to whom all the credit for the success of our programmes is due.

I hope you enjoy this report and the clear development of Safe Ground over the last twelve months.

I look forward to the next twelve.

Bill Visick

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Executive Director’s Report Safe Ground is an organisation based on relationships – we aim to improve others’ relationship skills and we aim to develop strategic and sustainable relationships across a diverse range of sectors, institutions, organisations and communities.

Much of the contemporary critique of social media is that too many relationships are not meaningful and cannot be successfully maintained. Often, people are accused of having ‘friends’ for the sake of it and of ‘liking’ people they don’t ever get to know.

For Safe Ground, having so many relationships is not about collecting people randomly. Each relationship we develop has a purpose and a depth; we take very seriously the commitments and responsibilities involved in sharing with others and that is part of the content of all our programmes.

In the last year, our work has developed in several ways: to focus more clearly on our evidence base (see p12); to include new programmes (see p22-24) and to build a way forward for the organisation that preserves all this quality for the people we work with.

Our work in the community with men involved with Probation services enables us to broaden the impact of Family Man, knowing how much difference the programme actually makes to peoples’ lives. We are developing new data collection protocols with Hampshire Probation Trust to allow us a much greater understanding of the breadth of impact achieved by the programme.

Professional Love is an opportunity for us to take the principles of our work with men in prison and apply them to work with Prison Officers. This group of professionals receive minimal training and supervision and work under extreme conditions; the kinds of situations and issues of power and control involved in their daily routine offer rich material for reflection and development at both personal and professional levels.

Man Up is a shorter group programme we have been able to develop with the support of Family Man and Fathers Inside students and graduates and senior managers from a wide range of prisons and education providers. So far, responses to the programme have been extremely positive, and the recent funding towards the pilot later this year (2013) will provide a great platform from which to develop and evaluate the content and format.

To have the responsibility of directing this kind of organisation is a massive privilege. Our success is completely dependent on the people and the relationships under that direction. The team at Safe Ground, our Board, our graduates, supporters, volunteers; our partners, allies, funders, colleagues, critics and our local businesses all make it possible for us to build and to thrive.

I hope this report demonstrates what we do with the energy, trust and belief that so many people have invested in us, and I hope it encourages all of us to do more.

Charlotte Weinberg

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‘12

Year 2 of our Department for Education (DfE) grant begins

Safe Ground part of Working Group with DfE and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) preparing Commissioning Guidelines for work with Families of people in prison for Commissioners

Safe Ground part of Voluntary Sector Reference Group working towards policy influence to protect work with Families of people in prison

Holly facilitates a workshop to practitioners at the Children with a Parent in Prison Conference at the University of Plymouth

Charlotte participates in Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Learning Set with G4S, Probation Trusts, St Giles Trust, A4E over 10 months

Holly and Sally train to deliver ‘Hidden Sentence’ training

Team away day with support from our DfE-funded consultant Natalie Melton, who helped us considerably in the process of preparing for life without the DfE, and Saul Hewish from Rideout who delivered us a taste of our own medicine in a drama based afternoon, involving all staff and the Chair of our Trustees

Holly, Sally and Clive (Family Man Tutor from HMP Belmarsh) deliver 3-day on-site training to prison officers and Spurgeons staff at HMP Kingston

Safe Ground invited to Koestler Trust Fundraising dinner at The Waldorf Hotel as guest of The Life Channel, along with Music in Prisons and Rideout

Holly, Sally and Clive deliver Family Man training at Newbold Revel to 16 delegates from 3 establishments

Holly works with Family Man / Fathers Inside (FM/FI) graduates in HMP Brixton and from HMP Parc to prepare for High Time event

High Time event takes place at House of Lords, as part of strategic approach for core funding for FM/FI from cross departmental sources (see p20)

Safe Ground attend Arts Forum meeting as Arts Alliance Steering Group member, to address senior civil servants about issues for members due to OLASS and public sector cuts

Safe Ground visit Maghaberry High Security Prison, Belfast, for first time to plan inclusion of Family Man as part of new Family Wing

Hidden Sentence training delivered at Safe Ground HQ

Key DatesApril

May

June

July

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‘12 Kerryn prepares to return to Safe Ground after maternity leave

Orla takes up part time role with Kerryn, sharing FM Coordinator postStrategy for FM/FI core funding from single department – NOMS approach begins in earnest

Safe Ground invited to present alongside National Council of Voluntary Organisations to audience at New Philanthropy Capital ‘Inspiring Impact’ launch eventSafe Ground awarded 3 years core funding from Esmée Fairbairn FoundationFM and FI to feature in the Fatherhood Institute’s report, Parenting Programmes and Policy: A Critical Review of Best Practice – the only prison-based programmes to do so.Holly and Orla deliver Fathers Inside training to 18 delegates from 6 establishments and 3 VCS organisationsHolly and Orla deliver bespoke FM/FI Refresher training to team at HMP Parc

Charlotte presents at Lemos and Crane conference Supporting Offenders to Improve their Literacy

Charlotte attends the Good Prison Awards at the Clink Restaurant, HMP Highdown, at invitation of Lemos and CraneSafe Ground feature in the Prisoners Education Trust’s Brain Cells report on prisoner learningOrla facilitates workshop at Men’s Network Annual ConferenceHolly and Orla deliver Family Man training to 13 delegates from 4 establishments and 2 VCS organisations

Awarded 2 years funding to continue support to FM/FI Network by NOMSLaunch of the Arts Alliance Evidence LibraryFathers Inside features as a good practice case study in Are We Nearly There Yet?, the Family Strategic Partnership’s report on young fathersAnne Peaker Lecture, Arts Alliance – Safe Ground lobby for access to data for all organisations working in prisons in order to respond to NOMS Commissioning Intentions and to be able to measure impact more effectivelySafe Ground host two days of ‘Ensuring Excellence’ CPD training to sector colleagues, including sessions on facilitating multiagency approaches, the value of evidence and targeted mentoring

August

September

October

November

December

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‘13January

February

March

Charlotte gives presentation to Association of Charitable Funders – Surviving the Crisis

Safe Ground invited to join Prisoners Learning Alliance – a new policy and practice body formed in collaboration with MoJ, NOMS and Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)

Safe Ground invited to join MoJ’s Justice Data Lab Expert Panel to advise on its implementation

Planning and preparation begins for second pilot phase of Family Man in the Community, with Hampshire Probation Trust (see p22)

Awarded Core Cost grant by Network for Social Change

Holly delivers bespoke FI Refresher training to team at HMP Lewes

Pilot of Professional Love Officer Training begins at HMP Pentonville (see p23)

Grundtvig preparatory visit to Turkey (see p19)

Safe Ground on the Run event in Battersea Park. Over 100 people run 10k to raise a total of £15,000 for Safe Ground (see p21)

Ashley Parsons recruited as FI Coordinator, to start in May 2013

Awarded pilot fund for Man Up by Triangle Trust 1949

Coordinate strategic meeting with all Education Providers and senior representatives from Prison Service to discuss and plan for FM/FI delivery despite OLASS 4 restrictions

Holly and Orla deliver Fathers Inside training to 22 delegates from 7 establishments and 2 VCS organisations. Tony, a FM/FI graduate who was part of the original programme development, attends the training to share his experience and knowledge with delegates

Eli goes on Maternity Leave

Holly promoted to Programmes Development Director

Adam promoted to Business Development Director

Obinna promoted to Fundraising and Communications Director

Safe Ground go to meet with senior representatives from Scottish Prison Service about FM/FI in Scotland

Safe Ground attend FM/FI presentations at Lewes, Feltham and Belmarsh

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As we entered the second (and final) year of our Department for Education (DfE) grant, significant changes were afoot in the landscape in which the FM and FI programmes operate. Challenges to continued programme delivery presented themselves in the form of Prison Service budget cuts, limitations around staff availability and the details of prison education funding structures. Armed with a knowledge of the continued relevance of and need for FM/FI (see p13), Safe Ground began a creative response to these challenges in collaboration with Education Providers, Prison Senior Management teams, Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), DfE, National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and private prison providers.

Having secured NOMS funding to allow the continuation of Safe Ground’s network management across public sector prisons for a further two years, we turned our attention to logistics. In February we chaired a strategic steering group of all education providers, as well as BIS, NOMS and Skills Funding Agency (SFA), to explore solutions and share best practice. The commitment to FM/FI from all of these partners is strong, and our work with them to ensure the delivery of the programmes within OLASS 4 education contracts will continue throughout 2013.

In some prisons, for the first time, the solution has been for the programmes to sit in pathways other than education. In HMP Lewes, for example, FI has been included in the Drug and Alcohol team’s service provision contract, contributing to a holistic approach to the treatment of men in the prison with a history of substance misuse. In other prisons, it has become clear that the way forward is for Safe Ground to directly deliver FM/FI, rather than Prison or Education staff being trained to do so. The first FM programme run within this direct delivery model will take place at HMP/YOI Isis in June 2013.

Another first came about this year as we had to trade FM/FI with those (privately run) establishments no longer included in our NOMS grant; and advanced discussions about the introduction of FM in Northern Ireland, Scotland and more Welsh prisons are on-going.

In addition to these achievements, Safe Ground has maintained its commitment to the continual development of our programmes. Over the course of this year, we have revised Fathers Inside, adding material that allows teams to engage with local schools as well as enhancing the programme’s content around action planning and personal progression.

Faced with a potentially threatening context, Safe Ground has once again shown its ability to adapt and to diversify. More than anything, we have shown that the strength of our strategic relationships enables us to think and act creatively in order to continue the work that we do. As we come to the end of this year, the future for FM/FI is positive, and we look forward to seeing the programmes not only continue, but develop with the support of all our partners over the coming year.

The Family Man and Fathers Inside NetworkHolly Conroy Programmes Development Director – FM/FI Network

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Programme Data

2012/13 2011/12 2010/11

Number of programmes delivered 26 29 38

Number of establishments 16 14 19

Students completed 313 382 513

Completion rate 75% 77% 77%

Average Class size 12.0 13.2 13.5

Number of qualifications awarded (including awards in Parenting, Family Relationships, Personal Development, 828 1005 1431 Progression, Key and Adult Literacy Skills)

Number of qualifications awarded per graduate 2.6 2.6 2.8

Number of supporters who engaged in Family Man workshops 168 193 237

Number of family visitors who attended presentations and family visits 1624 1875 1278

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My experience as a Family Man mentorI was a Family Man (FM) mentor on four FM courses between 2010 and 2012 in HMP Belmarsh prison. Overall I found the whole experience enjoyable and also a big learning curve for myself. When you’re participating in the course it’s more about you and how your actions affect your family but being a mentor you have already done that part of the course. Now you’re there to help the other students who may be struggling, helping people who are wary or shy in the beginning especially of being involved in warm up games or even just standing up and talking. As mentors we need to stand up and perform these roles as once we’ve broke the ice generally people feel more at ease and are ready to participate more.

Being in prison and doing the course is hard as people generally don’t want to let down their barriers as there’s a lot of bravado in prisons and people don’t want to show weaknesses due to the fact they feel people will exploit them back on the wings later on. However, on Family Man this act is quickly dropped and people start to build a bond and feel comfortable with each other, and I’d like to feel the mentors play a big part in this, by the way we come across and how involved we are.

I feel myself, that being a mentor helped me as a person a great deal and really helped me build up my social skills, as in the beginning I did not like talking in front of groups and now I feel much more confident in doing it. So much so that I performed for visiting Ministers and Policy Makers in early 2011 on behalf of Safe Ground. I had a very long talking part all by myself, which is not something I could of done before the Family Man course.

I also realised I’m really good at helping people who are struggling and giving them advice and making them feel they can complete the work they were finding hard. The courses also taught me a great deal about myself, even though I did the course five times, each one was a new experience for me. I continued learning about myself and growing as a person as no two groups are the same. I feel being a mentor put me on the path I’m on today and helped me build my future and my progression, I have now gone on to do an Open University course and Voluntary work, all with the help and guidance of the Family Man course.

I feel being a mentor built on my confidence and gave me assertiveness, teaching me how to take controls of groups and also how to facilitate games. By doing so, it gave me valuable tools for the future and for those opportunities I’ll always be grateful to Safe Ground and Clive and Glen in Belmarsh who run the courses, as with out all of them none of it would be possible.

Lee

10th November 2012

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Reading through the preliminary results from Safe Ground’s first ever matched control group reconviction study (more on that later), it seems appropriate to reflect on another busy year further developing our evidence base.

With belts ever-tightening and the relentless demands to deliver ‘more for less’, demonstrating impact has never been so vital. Funders and commissioners want to be as certain as possible that their money will be spent efficiently to maximise outcomes. As a result of the government’s Transforming Rehabilitation agenda Payment by Results looms on the horizon, bringing with it the threat and the opportunity of smaller voluntary sector organisations suddenly being asked to prove their ‘value’ by way of reduced reoffending like never before, as the bar for what constitutes ‘quality’ and equally ‘evidence’ is raised.

Safe Ground remains well positioned to meet these challenges head-on. We have continued to diversify our research base over the past twelve months whilst also playing a leading role in initiatives such as the Arts Alliance Evidence Library, designed to equip our sector with the skills and confidence to effectively manage and communicate data and outcomes.

In February 2012, we commissioned the Institute for Criminal Policy Research to conduct our biggest Family Man evaluation to date, assessing the programme’s impact on students, supporters and staff through in depth surveys. For the first time this study will also access statutory data to measure adjudication and reoffending rates to support a full cost-benefit analysis. Unfortunately, on-going delays in accessing reoffending data from the Ministry of Justice have pushed our publication date back to summer 2013; however the qualitative findings have been extremely positive and we look forward to sharing the full report with you later in the year.

Moreover, such delays in reconviction studies are hopefully about to become a thing of the past thanks to the Ministry of Justice’s Justice Data Lab, the result of many years lobbying by partners across the sector. The initiative has been launched to better enable voluntary sector organisations to assess the impact of their work on reoffending. Safe Ground has been a member of the steering group since its inception and we were the first organisation to pilot the process using a cohort of Family Man graduates. Disappointingly, the results had not quite been verified at the time this report went to print, although there will hopefully be a very positive announcement in the coming weeks.

Alongside the Justice Data Lab, Safe Ground also continues to be a steering group member on the consortium awarded funding by NOMS to research, define and measure intermediate outcomes for family and intimate relationship programmes working in the criminal justice system. We will begin piloting the tools in the summer and are delighted to be involved in a piece of work that could prove pivotal in raising greater awareness of the impact of positive family relationships on desistance from crime.

Evaluation and ResearchAdam Moll, Business Development Director

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Internally we have continued to monitor and evaluate the impact of Family Man and Fathers Inside across our network of delivery sites. 58 members of staff from 15 prisons completed our 2012 staff survey, assessing the programmes’ impact on a range of areas. The full report can be found on our website.

Finally, the icing on the cake of a busy year was the appearance of FM/FI in three separate good practice reports on parenting and prison education by the Fatherhood Institute, Prisoners Education Trust and the Family Strategic Partnership. All these reports can be downloaded from our website.

0 21 43 65 87 10

8.14FM/FI contributes to improved relationships between sta� and prisoners

FM/FI has an impact on students’ attitudes to ETE and Resettlement issues

FM/FI is an essential component of my Establishment’s reducing reo�ending strategy

FM/FI is a worthwhile investment of my Establishment’s resources

Safe Ground provides necessary support for the delivery of FM/FI in my Establishment

7.7

7.65

8.71

8.86

9

Statements of Impact of Family Man/Fathers Inside (Where 10 = Strongly agree and 0 = Strongly disagree)

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Safe Ground Impact and Input to Policy Part of our contribution to the sector is our participation in a wide variety of Boards and Steering groups, often placing us in direct communication with Policy Makers and government departments.

In 2012/13 we have continued our membership on the Board of the Criminal Justice Alliance, where we sit as part of the Governance structure of the organisation campaigning to increase awareness of the issue affecting 70 member organisations and new policy designs.

We have been members of the Steering Group of the Arts Alliance (AA); the umbrella organisation for all voluntary sector bodies and trained individuals working with the Arts in the Criminal Justice Sector. In 2012 the development of the AA, our contributions to the Evidence Library and the increasing pressure upon us to participate in other strategic bodies, made it a good time to step down from the Board. We are still proud and active members of the AA and work with many other members regularly.

Part of the reason for leaving the AA was to take up our invitation to join the Board of the prestigious new Prisoners Learning Alliance – established by Prisoners Education Trust and working with Business Innovation and Skills, NOMS and MoJ as members, alongside others including the Open University and the Prison Radio Association to influence the agenda around the nature, quality and access to education for people in prison.

For many years Safe Ground has been a proud member of the Voluntary Sector Reference Group – a working body of colleague organisations, hosted by Action for Prisoners Families with direct policy input to the Families of Offenders Board. Despite changes ahead in terms of reporting and funding for this group, Safe Ground values the opportunity to work with colleagues and Departmental representatives to create tangible and constructive approaches to issues including Payment by Results and Transforming Rehabilitation. This year we were key players in ensuring coherent messages were sent on behalf of both the Arts and Family sectors within criminal justice to Crispin Blunt and Chris Grayling respectively, engaging the secretary of State for Justice in important dialogue about the impact of the changes to the sector on the families of the people we work with.

We continue to be alert to changes in policy and have formally responded to a number of key policy changes from the Ministry of Justice, NOMS and the Youth Justice Board.

Cross-Sector Capacity Building This year saw the continuation of Safe Ground’s commitment to cross-sector capacity building, as we hosted two days of CPD training entitled ‘Ensuring Excellence’. Attended by 118 delegates from 31 organisations and establishments, the training covered topics from the importance of evaluation to the involvement of peer mentors in FM/FI programmes.

As part of our commitment to increasing the flexibility around FM/FI delivery, we have also begun training freelance facilitators to deliver the courses in addition to prison staff and education tutors.

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Not There

“I wrote the poem one night as the start of it goes. Could not sleep worrying about my children at home all alone because I was not there for them, and tells how I felt not having my dad around for me!”

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LightsThe genesis of ‘Transitions’ began with Safe Ground meeting with Writer / Journalist, Nana Ocran in 2011, to discuss how she might bring her craft and experience to a prison setting and produce something tangible that would leave a legacy and bring Safe Ground

back to our creative roots. The arrival of Sally Plumb as part of the Safe Ground team marked the next step in the evolution of the project. Sally’s background as a filmmaker, facilitator and tutor, as well as her experience with Wandsworth Borough Council enabled several things to happen. Sally also brought to our attention Wandsworth’s Widening Participation Fund, and alongside Obinna led a successful bid for its funding. So, with a rather modest budget, the programme (by now) known as ‘Transitions’ was ready to roll.

CameraHMP Wandsworth was a natural venue for our first local community project since Common Ground in 2011. HMP Wandsworth forms a significant part of Safe Ground’s history as it is where our two keystone programmes, Family Man and Fathers Inside, were first developed and also where our first film projects happened. The films ‘Ryan’s Choice’ and ‘Blinda’ were both shot at the prison with the help and participation of serving prisoners and prison staff, and Blinda (pronounced Blinder) is still part of the training material used on Family Man and Fathers Inside courses.

Transitions was delivered over just three days at the end of October 2012.

The participating group was sceptical about what could be achieved in such a short period of time. The men decided in the end that they all wanted to be part of the final product and so took the initiative in coming together to fuse ideas, characters and themes into one script that reflected them all. The script that emerged from this creative exchange and round table negotiation was called ‘The View’.

ActionThe next phase entailed shooting and editing a short film, to be screened at HMP Wandsworth by the end of the year. As part of our funding agreement with Wandsworth Council we also had to engage a group of young people and provide training and mentoring in filmmaking; a tall order. The film itself was shot in just three days over a two week period in November 2012.

Transitions

Students working in small groups on film script

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To Be Continued‘Transitions’ real success was the connection formed between the Transitions students of HMP Wandsworth and the people of the local community who made up the cast and crew of ‘The View’. For the men in prison it was important that their voices be heard and their perspective (‘The View) seen. It was equally important for the community counterparts that the film be as true to the vision as possible; at the cast and crew screening every editorial decision was scrutinised and questioned thoroughly.

The two groups came together at the two screenings that took place at HMP Wandsworth on Tuesday 18th December 2012. Members of each group took part in challenging Q&A panels that followed the screenings and it would be fair to say that consensus amongst the Transitions students was that the film represented them with authenticity, which had been their greatest concern.

Stills from the film shoot of ‘The View’. (Three images courtesy of Bettina Goebels.)

‘Dragons Den’ style pitching of film scripts

Charlotte introduces film screening of ‘The View’ at HMP Wandsworth.

Read more about Transitions and view the project’s picture galleries on our website. Obinna Nwosu.

The final word should rightly go to the Transitions students. Gus, one of the scriptwriters, composed the following passage in response to the experience:

Pictures of the audience at the screening

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The governor of HMP Wandsworth, Kenny Brown, speaks to the audience.

Let me set the scene. I’ve just been brought back to my cell B2-023. 6’ x 10’. Eastenders is showing, a cup of coffee and a cigarette smokes in the ashtray. I’ve just watched a short film that I helped to write. WOW!!!!!!! People liked our work?!Maybe 10 total strangers, guys, males, criminals, innocent, each here. HMP Wanno SW18 3HS.A week before Xmas one of the most stressful times for prisoners and their much loved families.Safe Ground entered an institution, gave us a brief and we went with it. All with different thoughts – we got into groups, gangs, goals (gaols/jail) achievements. Sally made a film from our ideas. Nervous (all of us I think), Notes, New Creative Writing Skills. Communications. TERRIFIC??!! TRUST.Listening to the positive feedback. Our morals with a message, twist and turns. Mistakes, proof of a good person, good people. Respect to your fellow man and women. Negative to Positive. The light needs both to shine.1851 how long Wandsworth prison has been built.

1Gus.

Images courtesy of Jonathan Perugia (except where highlighted)

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Grundtvig Preparatory VisitOver the last 5 years, Safe Ground has been involved in the European Union grant stream that enables organisations to collaborate internationally, sharing ideas and practice and developing new ways of working in prisons.

Previously, we have worked alongside partners from Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Romania to consider how our different approaches to arts and education in prison establishments work and can be connected. This round of funding saw Safe Ground form a new partnership group with organisations from Norway, Belgium, Holland and Turkey, seeking to create an applied outcome from the learning so far.

Although our original idea was rejected by the funding agency (late 2012), we were given the opportunity to work together towards re-writing the submission…in Turkey! We were awarded funds for one person from each organisation to spend 3 full days in Adana, ensuring a quality application for submission in February 2013.

The visit was packed and our intensive 12 hour work sessions were complemented by our social visits to the beautiful town of Adana, one of the ‘best kebab houses in Turkey’ (impressive, even for a vegetarian), the court house and magistrates offices. Our Turkish partners are based in the High Security Prison and in the Adana Science and Technology University so we also got the inside scoop on each of those institutions.

The Inside Stories application was submitted and we eagerly await the outcome in June of this year:

“Inside Stories aims to share stories that may otherwise not be heard. This project will use a wide spectrum of creative arts practices to support a process of reflection and personal development through re-telling life stories. For many people in prison, emotional education and personal growth are not part of everyday experience. Inside Stories is an international approach to the creative use of story and narrative,

enabling some of the most marginalized people to not only re-tell their own stories, but also to develop skills and create art to share with others. The project is designed to facilitate people in prison considering the impact of their stories on the outside world and making something valuable to themselves and others.”

Members of Preparatory visit group: Adana F Type High Security Closed Prison; Aasane Upper Secondary School of Education, Dept. of Ulvsnesøy; De Rode Antracıet; Dutch Prison Service (DJI – Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen); Safe Ground

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Father Inside Graduate and St Giles Project Manager, Colin Lambert, meets Prisons Minister, Crispin Blunt.

Events and Communications Obinna Nwosu, Fundraising and Communications Director

StartIn striving for excellence, as is the Safe Ground way, success is an unavoidable by-product as well as a desired outcome. This past year has proved no exception to that rule.

New Ways, New ThingsThrough our ‘Transitions’ project we have deepened our connection with the local community, reinvigorated our purely artistic output and designed a new way to engage men in prison. You can read more about the project in a separate section of this report and on our website. The project has also enabled us to build new audiences and expand our reach. We will use this as a springboard to create events that use film as platform for engagement, debate and connection with other arts practices. I am sure it will prove to be a precursor to a cinematic documenting of our programmes and new dramatic narratives that will manifest in film, theatre, poetry and performance.

High Time It has been a long standing challenge to make it possible for Ministers and senior civil servants to come to prison and see our work in action. So last July we grabbed the bull by the horns and took serving prisoners into the House of Lords.

An influential audience, including the (then) Prisons and Shadow Prisons Ministers, the Minister for Further Education and representatives from 6 government departments, as well as 5 education providers and representatives from 5 prisons, assembled in the House of Lords to get a taste of Safe Ground’s work and the impact of our programmes

The presentation did not disappoint as an elite cast of programme graduates, family members, delivery staff and two Lords delivered a combination of dramatic scenes and

powerful, personal testimonies on the profound impact of participating in Family Man and Fathers Inside.

Following productive discussions on how the programmes could continue to flourish in a time of diminishing resources, delegates stayed to mingle with the presenters’ families and to laugh with their children, inspired by a first-hand insight into work that is really making a difference.

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Photography credits: Top & left: Neha Kolwat. Right: Obinna Nwosu

On The Run cake made and donated by Blueberry Hill Cakes

Safe Ground Patron Lord Lucas receiving chair massage courtesy of Barking Bathhouse

Fun Run MoneyAs has been reported via email, our newsletter, our website and other social media platforms, Safe Ground On The Run 2012-13 was successful as both a profile raiser and fundraiser. 105 people participated on the day and many of them also enjoyed our post run event Safe Ground Over The Line. At time of writing we have raised nearly £15,000. As a single event fundraiser this has been the most successful in the history of Safe Ground. We have managed to galvanise a fair amount of support locally through donations and partnerships with Whole Foods Market Clapham, Blueberry Hill Cakes and Bad Boys Bakery. We also mobilised our work and personal networks to create a great day and featured in the Wandsworth Guardian and several online publications. Organising a sponsored run is a large undertaking for a small organisation, but this is only the beginning as our ambition is as bold as our imagination is bright. We have planned another large scale endurance fundraiser but also more artistic profile raisers involving poetry, music, film and photography.

Race Start

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New Programmes in Development

Family Man in the CommunityGraduates of FM/FI have asked us for years about whether our programmes could be run in the community to support men either on release from prison or whilst they are serving community sentences.

This year saw the development of our programme Family Man in the Community, the result of a successful partnership between Safe Ground and Hampshire Probation Trust. The first version of the programme, an adaptation of our flagship Family Man programme, was written by Safe Ground freelancer Alison Jones Moran, and has been successfully trialled with men on probation in Southampton.

The second phase of develop-ment is underway; Alison began work on the second version of the programme in Spring 2013, with trials of the updated materials due to take place in summer 2013.

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Professional Love The concept of Professional Love emerged at the Safe Ground Policy Symposium, “Doing Desistance”, in 2012. A panel member, Michael, spoke of his experience, as a long sentenced prisoner (on the Fathers Inside programme), of a professional but loving relationship with a Prison Officer. Michael cited this relationship, with its clarity, and supportive yet challenging nature, as one element in his process of desistance. Michael suggested that all Prison Officers and uniformed staff in general should have access to regular, quality supervision to ensure their professional standards are maintained and monitored. At that time, Michael was on Release on Temporary Licence from HMP Brixton. Michael has, at the time of this report, been an actively engaged community member for 12 months, working as a youth and community worker, employed by a football club. Michael has also created a serious youth violence intervention programme which Safe Ground is supporting him to deliver nationally with strategic partners.

Over 2012 we have been able to design and deliver a pilot of a professional development programme under the working title, Professional Love. The first trial was carried out with a group of five prison officers at HMP Pentonville during February 2013. Initially, sessions were set at 1.5 hours until officers requested (in week two) that we extend the sessions to two hours.

Specifically the programme aimed to provide an opportunity to develop:

• Deepened understanding of professional relationships and roles;

• Ability to engage with aspects of mental health awareness in a practical and experiential way, enabling it to translate more directly and intuitively into professional practice;

• Greater capacity to manage challenging emotions and behaviours: both of those with whom they work, and their own responses.

As we go to print we are in advanced discussions with HMP Pentonville about Phase 2 of the programme over Summer 2013 and hope very much to interest NOMS and MoJ in the programme as a result. This represents a new direction for Safe Ground; extending and applying our methodology and belief in the importance of quality relationships from people in prison to the professionals entrusted to keep the Prison System recognising and valuing diversity, security, safety and decency.

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Man Up Safe Ground places a huge amount of value on the feedback and input of our partners, whether they be prisoners, family members, prison service staff or education providers. In response to demand for a shorter relationships course using Safe Ground’s proven methodology, we began work this year on Man Up. Looking at ideas around identity and masculinity, the course will explore the impact of these concepts on participants’ relationships with those around them. With Orla leading on course development, Man Up has come into existence quickly, and the Triangle Trust 1949 have supported the development of the programme with a grant to enable a new set of trials in a number of settings, prison and community as of Spring 2013.

“Family Man made me have a long hard look at myself and showed me how selfish I was and never even knew it. For example whenever I got on the phone it was always about me and how hard I’ve got it, I never listened or thought about them or their problems. But after doing Family Man, that’s the first thing I ask when I’m on the phone; how’s your day been, any problems etc. Family Man taught me that even though I’m in jail I can still be there for them. It made me look at my behaviour and how it affects them and the impact it has on their lives. My communication has improved 100% since the course and we now talk openly about our problems rather than just getting on with it – as after helping me through this course it has helped them to understand me better and vice versa.”

Lee, HMP Belmarsh (Extract from letter to Safe Ground, 2012)

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Volunteering for Safe GroundIn the past 12 months, our volunteer programme has developed way beyond our original expectations. We have had Olive, Clementine, David, Lottie, Morwenna, Chamonix and Andrea pass through our doors on a time and task-limited, supported volunteer-ship which has enhanced chosen career paths and educational development as planned at the outset with each participant.

Chamonix returned to Yale University with a greater knowledge of the UK criminal justice system and having made substantial contributions to the marketing and communications of a small voluntary sector organisation. Olive and Clementine were both able to fulfil the ‘A’ level projects they specifically wanted information for in a few days; David worked with us for a year before securing himself a pay rise, increased hours and a promotion in his part time policy job; Lottie is now a studio manager in a design studio which is exactly what she wanted, Andrea has been able to define some new goals for herself, develop an action plan and identify training needs for her chosen field and Morwenna has chosen to move from Marketing and Communications where she supported us for two weeks, to Research and Policy on a 3 month work plan.

Lottie Burnley Marketing and Communications Assistant

“Many people reading this report will be familiar with the wonderful work that Safe Ground does in prisons and communities across the UK but I’m sure you’re curious to learn what it’s actually like to work at Safe Ground. Safe Ground is named so as it provides a safe, open, supportive environment in which people are able to learn and grow. I was very fortunate to discover that within the organisation’s professional environment this same ‘safe ground’ exists.

When I started working at Safe Ground I was a fresh graduate somewhat lost in the plethora of career paths and a little dubious about getting myself signed up to anything too serious. As a volunteer at Safe Ground I was encouraged to develop skills relevant to my professional aspirations which gave me a great opportunity to figure out what I found to be interesting and rewarding work. It was fantastic to be part of an organisation where everyone’s voice is heard and it was clear that good ideas became great programmes and projects with real impact. Since leaving Safe Ground I’ve kept in touch with the team and I certainly hope to continue being involved with their fantastic work in the future and would like to take this as an opportunity to say thank you to all the team for being so amazing.”

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Morwenna Bennallick Project Coordinator/ Research and Policy Assistant

“Volunteering... What it means to me...

Leaving university, moving city and beginning the not-so-appealing task of ‘The Job Hunt’ was a pretty daunting place to be. Finding

it increasingly difficult to channel my interest in criminal justice policy, and getting fed up with the phrase ‘it’s a tough market out there’, I found myself a refuge in the shape of Safe Ground.

During my time volunteering at Safe Ground, I have experienced a wide variety of roles in the pioneering work of the charity. I began as a helping hand in the organisation of the first (of many…) Safe Ground on the Run event; a 10k race which was a great fundraiser, a really positive day and a boost for the name of Safe Ground in the local community. I have since gone on to co-ordinate the upcoming annual policy symposium which will bring together policy makers, practitioners and Safe Ground programme graduates alike in a creative forum for innovative criminal justice ideas and practice.

These past months have given me an invaluable insight into the sector in which I hope to develop a career. I am now very excited to be beginning a policy and research internship through which I will play a significant part in Safe Ground’s role in constructing a wide reaching outcome measurement toolkit. To have an input in the arena of assessment and evaluation at a time when it is of increasing significance is a great opportunity; not only to develop my individual skills and make some valuable contacts but also to potentially impact on the future of responsive interventions.

Volunteering with Safe Ground is to become part of the team; and what an inspiring and influential team to be part of. The breadth of my experience as a volunteer is testament to the proactive way that they have sought to help me develop professionally on my way into a career in the field. My time spent with Safe Ground has definitely been worth more than the points on the old CV.”

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AcknowledgementsThis report and all the work Safe Ground has managed to complete over the last year would not have been possible were it not for the considerable and on-going contributions of all our multiple partners, allies, supporters, participants and funders.

This year was made possible by the generous support of:Grundtvig PartnershipsThe Department for EducationThe Esmée Fairbairn FoundationWandsworth Widening Participation Fund

Generous donations from many members of the public and friends of the organisation who have made us Gift Aid recipients. Thank you.

Safe Ground would like to thank all of our alumni, our Board, our colleagues at DfE and NOMS, our colleagues in the Prison Service, Action for Prisoners’ Families, Andrew Harvey, Antonia Rubinstein, Lottie Burnley, Morwenna Bennallick, Andrea Lewis, Claire Ellis, Clifford Chance, CLINKS, Colin Lambert, Concord Prison Trust, Corin Morgan- Armstrong, Criminal Justice Alliance, Criminal Justice Matters, Damian Evans, David Binder, Edward Greatrex, Eloise Shepherd, Eve McDougal, Family and Parenting Institute, Fatherhood Institute, Frances Griffiths, George Gray, Grace Ayanfalu, Helena Kennedy, Her Majesty’s Prison Inspectorate, Jason Smith, Kensington and Chelsea College, Kerry Longhorn, Khulisa, LEAP confronting conflict, London Association of Youth Justice, Lord Lucas, Lord Ramsbotham, Manchester College, Maria Galovics, Melly Still, Michael Brown, Natalie Melton, Nathalie Gibson-Wilson, NPC, Prison Advice and Care Trust, Pamela Hatton, Phil Wragg, Playing ON, POPS, Prime Timers/Ecorys, Prison Radio Association, Prisoners’ Education Trust, Richard Tilt, Richard Ward, Sara Lee, Saul Hewish, Scott Whitnall, Shannon Trust, Sharon Shea, Simmons and Simmons, Spurgeons, Suzanne Beard, The Arts Alliance, Tim Bateman, Tim Carter, Time for Families, Tony de St Aubin, and User Voice.

Safe Ground On The Run:- Whole Foods Market Clapham, Leonie Alert, Bad Boys Bakery-Working Links, Aoibheann Callely, Rachel Walker, Abigail Conway-Todd, Blueberry Hill Cakes, Rachel Reynolds, Ella Fletcher, Barking Bathhouse, Rachelle Moulai, Farrah Idris, Sue Howes, Greg Dyke, Craig Orr, Boots (Reading), Lush (Reading), Costa Do Estoril, Thomas Thompsett at CSSC, Race Day volunteers: Bode Akanbi, Mick Lydon, Linda Lucas, Catharine Robertson, Catriona Robertson, Ikenna Nwosu, Adaku Nwosu, Chijioke Nwosu, Tammy McGloughlin, Marion Lowe, Susan Hewitt, Alison Cole, David Binder, Ben Cheetham, Tom Turner, Leonard Theobalds, Ian Griffiths, Inspector Stephen Biggs (Wandsworth Events Police), Emeson, Mart Geibner, Jessiqua, Chris Franck runners and supporters;

Transitions:- Darren, David, Carlon, Gus, Thangia, Ali, Carlos, Bruce, Steven, Henry and Aaron, Students of the ‘Transitions’ course October 2012; Sally Plumb, Nana Ocran, Sharon Norey, Governor Kenny Brown, HMP Wandsworth, Loraine Williams, Wandsworth Council Lifelong Learning Widening Participation Fund; Cast and Crew of ‘The View’ – Hakki Cigdem, Elliot Toyloy, Niall Hunt, Lorraine Alessandro, Yuri Simone, Eddi Belgrave, Frank Dallas, Teresa Dallas, Viva Givanni, Malcolm Newberry, Abigail O’Riordan, Vicky Jackson, Mark Worrall, Bettina Goebels, Val Hewson, Sharon Hunt, Lyndon Ives, Brian Galloway, Swizzle.

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StaffThis year has been something of a baby marathon for Safe Ground. Clearly we are either very creative, very relaxed or somewhere people can’t wait to get away from for long periods of time. Since February 2012, we have had 2 babies born and another on the way. Far from maternity leave being a difficult and awkward moment in the organisation’s life, we have been able to plan really positively for the three maternity leaves, recruit and fill each space with brilliant people and receive our first leaver back into the fold on a part time basis.

In a nutshell: Kerryn left the post of Fathers Inside Coordinator to go on maternity leave. Holly went from Family Man Coordinator to Fathers Inside Coordinator (covering Kerryn) and Orla (who was a volunteer) was recruited to Family Man Coordinator (covering for Holly.)

Kerryn made a proposal to return part time and the post of Family Man Coordinator has been shared between Kerryn and Orla since November 2012.

Eli (Programmes Director) went on maternity leave in March 2013 and Orla will go on maternity in June 2013.

BoardThe Board of Trustees of Safe Ground play a huge role in ensuring not only the legal compliance of the organisation, but also the strategic direction, integrity and value base of the founding principles are respected. We are very lucky to have a loyal and long standing Board, many of whom have been with us for over ten years. In the past 12 months, we have seen three Trustees leave and are lucky enough to have had many high quality applications to join us in the vacancies we have advertised. We will be recruiting four new Trustees in April 2013 and look forward to welcoming them to work with us and introducing them to you all in our next Newsletter.

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Alongside that, we have had a new starter: Ashley Parsons, who is covering Holly, who is covering Eli in the role of Programmes Development Director. Ashley joins Safe Ground fresh from working for three years in an award winning local authority Crime Reduction team in East London. Prior to that he worked extensively as a mental health outreach worker and as manager of a supported housing project for homeless young offenders.

To ensure the organisation is fit for future purpose we have also undergone a restructure, as follows:

Charlotte Weinberg . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Director

Eleanor Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . Programmes Director

Adam Moll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business Development Director

Obinna Nwosu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fundraising and Communications Director

Holly Conroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Programmes Development Director (Maternity Cover)

Orla Hasson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Family Man Coordinator (Part time)

Kerryn Davies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Family Man Coordinator (Part time)

Ashley Parsons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fathers Inside Coordinator (Maternity Cover)

In May/June 2013, we will be welcoming three additional members of staff – An Office Manager Apprentice, A Man Up Coordinator and a Volunteer Evaluation Assistant for Man Up.

Charlotte

Holly

Eleanor

Orla

Adam

Kerryn

Obinna

Ashley

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Financial Review & Summary of Accounts

2012 2011 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds £ funds £ funds £ fund £

INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds

Voluntary income 14,783 298,175 312,958 339,378

Investment income 83 - 83 83

Total incoming resources 14,866 298,175 313,041 339,461

RESOURCES EXPENDED

Charitable activities 12,908 332,593 345,501 296,670

Governance costs - 5,230 5,230 6,628

Total resources expended 12,908 337,823 350,731 303,298

NET INCOMING/ (OUTGOING) RESOURCES

Before transfers 1,958 (39,648) (37,690) 36,163

Gross transfers between funds 2,371 (2,371) - -

Net incoming/(outgoing) resources 4,329 (42,019) (37,690) (36,163)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward 45,018 78,376 123,394 87,231

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 49,347 36,357 85,704 123,394

Safe Ground, Year ended 31 December 2012

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing. The statement of financial activities complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 1985.

The summarised accounts above may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. For further information, the accountant’s report on these accounts should be consulted. Copies of these can be obtained from Safe Ground PO Box 11525, London SW11 5ZW.

Funded by and with the generous support of:

Safe Ground, PO BOX 11525, London SW11 5ZWwww.safeground.org.uk E: info@safeground.org.uk T: 020 7228 3831Safe Ground Ltd. Registered Office: Park House, 233 Roehampton Lane, London SW15 4LBRegistered Charity No: 1048181. Registered Company No: 03080847