Advice and Guidance

Since 2008, we have been supporting women offenders across Merseyside and have developed a considerable understanding of their complex needs, type of support they need and respond to, and what works.

We offer 1-1 advice and guidance with individuals with criminal records with the aim to reduce barriers they may face when moving into employment, education, training (ETE) and voluntary work. This enables them to receive specialist support around positive disclosure of their criminal convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

The support is for those aged 18+ who reside within the St. Helens Borough and will work with our Advice and Guidance Officer Diane and Trainee Hannah. Diane and Hannah will support those in ETE which in turn reduces their chances of re-offending.

 “Most of the solutions to women’s offending lie in improved access to community based support services, including women’s centres. These enable women to address underlying problems which may lead to offending but which the criminal justice system cannot solve.”

      “The impact of imprisonment on women, more than half of whom have themselves been victims of serious crime, is especially damaging and their outcomes are worse than men’s. Most women have neither a home nor a job to go to on release.  Women are much more likely to be primary carers, with children far more directly affected by a prison sentence as a result. “