Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Life after prison tackled at Leeds Met guest lecture
The guest lecture, which is open to the public, will be held at 3.30pm on Wednesday 14 November in the Rose Bowl building at the city centre campus and will tackle the work that the West Yorkshire Community Chaplaincy Project (WYCCP) undertakes to support the men back into society.
Mr Chrimes, who has worked in resettlement and housing for ten years, most notably with adult and young offenders, said: "One of the most rewarding aspects of the work is to see someone who has previously thought of themselves as unemployable, and resigned themselves to a life of either prison or benefits, gaining the confidence and skills to return to society motivated and ready to contribute. The men who use the WYCCP service benefit from intensive support around the full spectrum of issues that have led to their unemployment.
"As well as assisting them to access accommodation, training and employment, we provide assistance in becoming organised and attending appointments; getting into mental health services or supported housing. Our staff and volunteers are trained to address and discuss men's attitude towards offending and deal with these specific issues to promote change."
The free lecture will focus on what the WYCCP project offers to prisoners leaving HMP Leeds and will include some case studies of success stories.
Based at the prison, WYCCP is an independent resettlement organisation which aims to reduce re-offending, working with the men pre- and post- release. Following recent studies, the project, which works alongside agencies including West Yorkshire Probation Service, the NHS and the Drug Intervention Programme, is confident of a 60-75% success rate.
Professor Ieuan Ellis, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, said: "This guest lecture addresses a subject which affects our immediate community and society at large so will be of immense interest to many of our students and the wider public. I am delighted to welcome Oliver Chrimes to speak at Leeds Metropolitan about WYCCP's inspiring and important work."
If you would like to attend please confirm to s.rooke@leedsmet.ac.uk