THE JUST WOMEN PROJECT

The Just Women Project in Leicester is one of the leading women's scheme in England and Wales that has been specifically designed to meet the multiple needs of female offenders leaving prison and serving community sentences.

Staff members from the Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust are co-located with the partnership charity New Dawn, New Day to provide supervision and services to women offenders.

The Just Women Project was launched in April 2010 and in its first year worked with 140 women - at least 90% of the participants reveal a personal history that can feature childhood neglect, physical violence and sometimes sexual abuse. In later life many of the women have experienced domestic violence in their adult relationships.

WHAT'S ON OFFER

- Women's Anger Management Programme, delivered by Probation staff

- Debt and finance management

- Housing Support

- Special Training and employment advice from a team who work with the long term unemployed

- In-house counsellor to help with mental stress and self esteem issues

- Health Living Programnme

- Support in parenting and safeguarding children.

FURTHER FUNDING

The local project has been re-commissioned by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Corston Independent Funders Coalition (CIFC) to continue until March 2012. The women will be tracked with the support of other agencies to monitor any reconviction data, as well as their engagement to improve their personal circumstances.