A new scheme giving vulnerable people leaving prison stable accommodation and helping them to rebuild their lives is now up and running across Ramsgate.

Our partnership with Together Kent is providing people with a place to live while they receive intensive support to address issues that could lead them back into a life of crime.

As part of the initiative, our support workers will help individuals at the Together Kent accommodation to overcome their personal barriers, so they can successfully move on to independent living and ultimately take the first steps in turning a corner on their criminal pasts.

The support they receive includes developing their relationships and bolstering their skills and motivation so they can successfully continue on their rehabilitation journeys after prison.

Government figures show that nearly 1,000 prisoners are released and made homeless every month. Prisoners who are in stable accommodation are significantly less likely to reoffend within the first year than those who are homeless or in temporary accommodation. Two-thirds of those who slept rough or were otherwise homeless went on to commit another crime within a year of release.

Rupert Nesbitt-Day, our Director of Community Development, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Together Kent to create a brand new and much-needed resource for a group of vulnerable people that society can sometimes overlook because of their past.

“No one should ever have to live without a home or roof over their head. For those leaving prison, it can be harder to get a job or receive health support because they don’t have a home address. By giving them a solid foundation to build from, we can make our communities safer and give vulnerable people who are leaving prison the basic essentials they need to turn a corner on their criminal pasts.

“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Together Kent to create new evidence-led solutions to tackle inequalities’ and ensure no group is left behind.”