CFO Activity Hubs welcome partners to events

Reed in Partnership welcomed more than 100 partners to two events at our CFO Activity Hubs in Lewisham and Croydon to mark the extension of the service until March 2024.

Our CFO Activity Hubs are funded by the Ministry of Justice and European Social Fund. The serve people who are on licence from prison or serving a community sentence. The Hubs offer a safe and comfortable place for those individuals to develop a sense of community and belonging, as well as access guidance from Support Workers to help them move into a positive place in either education, employment or training.

Those attending the Hubs have access to a wide range of support, including help with employability skills, housing and finances, and activity sessions, such as exercise and art classes.

Partners who attended our events included representatives from His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service, Forward Trust, the Department for Work and Pensions, Metropolitan Police, Shaw Trust, High Down Prison, and many more.

Senior Operations Manager Loretta Morris gave an overview of the first 18 months of delivery from the launch in June 2021. We were able to showcase the integrated community elements of the service, including the collaborative work we do with our delivery partners SIG Penrose and the Forces Employment Charity (formerly RFEA), as well as our external activity providers including Safeground, Genius Within, and Air Network.

Our Support Workers at the event shared stories of some individuals whose lives have been improved by attending the CFO Activity Hubs. One participant attended on the day to share his own story, saying:

"Thank you so much to my probation officer and my Support Worker Lizzie, she’s the best. At the end of the day, you may just see us as convicts but we are people too. Don't write us off. We want somewhere to come where we can relax and be supported and the CFO Hub is that place."

To wrap up the events, some of our external activity providers were invited to lead sessions to demonstrate the work they do with hub participants. Air Network held a light boxing session, and one of the Support Workers led a guided meditation session for partners to get involved in.

With the extension of the service, we will continue to support those leaving the prison system to lead law abiding lives and reintegrate back into their communities. You can find out more about the service by visiting cfoactivitylondon.co.uk