Projects: Capacity Builders
The Capacity Builders project will allow the NBBPSG to increase opportunities influencing policy and strategy on a local, regional and National level. The result being, an improved dialogue and understanding on the subject of offending behaviour and the impact this has on the wider community. This is intended to increase partnership approaches when tackling issues on the reduction of re-offending as part of a wider strategic agenda.
The project achieves its aims by:
- Delivering an annual conference to share and disseminate information between the BME Voluntary and Community Sector, National Offender Management Service, prison, probation, police and other agencies working within the Criminal Justice System.
- Developing an accredited programme in partnership with the National Open College Network (NOCN) that promotes issues prevalent to the Criminal Justice System and the development and management of Voluntary and Community Sector organisations in general.
- Engaging the commissioners in each of the regions to look at ways of utilising the skills and experiences of the BME Voluntary and Community Sector organisations in identifying needs and priorities for offenders and their families.
- Exploring ways of collaborating resources to give the best opportunities to work with the BME Voluntary and Community Sector to provide culturally appropriate services.
- Facilitate a process of capacity building activities within BME Voluntary and Community Sector organisations that provide services to support the resettlement of BME offenders and their families.
- Prepare organisations for the commissioning and contestability agenda of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).
- Provide services that meet the priorities of the Regional Offender Manger.
- Develop a consortium in each of the regions to support their engagement and presence on local and regional pertnerships addressing the issues of offenders.
- Raise awareness of the capacity needs of all support agencies that are or would like to work with Black and Minority Ethnic Offenders.
- Develop information, training and access to advice in order to meet the needs of all support agencies that are or would like to work with Black and Minority Ethnic Offenders to support their resettlement needs.
Project objectives
Services
Annual National Conference:
The conference will provide groups with the opportunity to network, share good practice, encourage partnerships and provide information to organisations on a national level.
Regional Forums:
The forums will provide groups with the opportunity to network, share good practice, encourage partnerships and provide information to organisations on a regional level. The forums will be taking place in the North West, South West and the West Midland regions of England.
Training & Capacity Building Workshops:
Provide relevant training in various fields identified from mapping exercises, to organisations, their workforce and volunteers etc. Help build the capacity of the organisation with regards to its resources, activities, policies and procedures etc.
Capacity Builders Project
Need for the Project
- Recent Home Office reports show that those from BME communities are disproportionately involved in all stages of the Criminal Justice System
- There is also evidence to show that the BME prison population has grown significantly
- Recent data shows the large percentage difference between the BME community within the general population compared to that within the prison population
- It continues to be reported that people from BME backgrounds are likely to suffer from a range of social exclusion and overwhelmingly so within the prison population
Capacity Builder Staff
National Body Trustees
Farida Anderson
POPS, Chairperson
Diane Curry
POPS, Secretary
Clive Martin
CLINKS, Ordinary Member
Joe Gardham
CLINKS, Ordinary Member
Milton Samuels
National Probation South Yorkshire, Ordinary Member
Linda Lewis
Prison Link, Ordinary Member
Krishna Kaur
IMPACT, Ordinary Member
David Thomas
Black Health Agency, Ordinary Member
For more information about the Capacity Builders project, call 0161 740 3679 or Email us at 
Personnel
Viveen Taylor
Director
T. 0161 740 3679
E. 
Simone Taylor
Administration Support
T. 0161 740 3679
E.
