The Board of the Leicestershire & Rutland Probation Trust

Board Chair Jane Wilson explains:

Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust was one of the first Probation Areas across England and Wales to achieve Trust status.

Over the next three years, the Trust is facing significant cuts in its budget from the Ministry of Justice and given the current economic environment, this situation is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. We have a clear strategy for how we will respond to these cuts and where we will put our focus in order to build on our strong track record of performance against this challenging financial backdrop.

Our strategy has been refined through consultation with probation staff and representatives from partner organisations. It includes the delivery of a more efficient and cost effective service as well as identifying innovative ways of improving our performance in terms of protecting the public and reducing re-offending. It is also our intention to leverage our status as a Trust to generate additional external income in support of our strategy. This will be underpinned by key developments in our organisation, including providing a more local focus to meeting offender and community needs through the establishment of Local Delivery Units. The Trust has a clear vision and a strong set of values, which will guide us as we embark on the changes ahead. If we are to successfully deliver the aims and objectives set out in our strategy, it is critical that we continue to involve unions, our staff, our partners and other key stakeholders.