Publications
Women into Work reports
Women Into Work Good Practice Toolkit
Peer Research Training
In Phase One of the Women into Work programme a peer research study was undertaken to identify barriers to employment, training and education for disadvantaged women, particularly those involved in the Criminal Justice System. Due to the success of this research methodology, Women into Work developed a Peer Research Training Course in order to disseminate this process. The course is accredited by the Open College Network and has been delivered to 33 projects throughout the country.
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Peer Research Methodology
This leaflet offers a comprehensive guide to conducting peer research - 'the ultimate in participatory research'. It draws on the extensive experience of the SOVA led project 'Women into Work' to outline the key benefits and pitfalls of this innovatory approach and a good practice guidance. A key aspect of the Women into Work programme was to conduct peer research in order to identify barriers to employment, training and education (hereafter referred to as ETE) for women (ex)offenders. Although the information in this leaflet has a specific focus upon ex-offenders as peer researchers, it is equally applicable to any peer research scenario.
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Peer Support Model
This leaflet offers a model for enabling agencies to employ peers to work successfully with women in trouble with the criminal justice system. It is aimed at organisations who are about to deliver or are delivering prison or community-based programmes for women offenders. It offers advice and guidance on developing a model of practice which will ensure the peers are probably recruited and inducted, that relationships with external staff is working effectively and that the experience empowers women to help their peers. It draws on the extensive experience of the SOVA led project 'Women into Work' including 5 Pilot Projects which trialled the use of peer supporters in their work. This work concluded that women ex-offenders should be employed to facilitate the resettlement of other women offenders as a core feature of provision in the criminal justice system.
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Empowering Participation
A key feature of the SOVA 'Women into Work' programme was empowerment. Throughout the research and service delivery phases this has been has principle of fundamental importance which has guided practice. Empowerment is a complex term with no agreed definition. The diagram below draws on the experiences of the Women into Work programme to outline activities and practices identified as having empowered participation. This leaflet is aimed at any practitioner aiming to work in an empowering way with disadvantaged groups.
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Apply Within
Women into Work worked collaboratively with three other European Social Funded EQUAL projects IMPACT, NewLIFE and PRISE. The group produced an interactive CD-Rom entitled 'Apply Within' to help employers develop robust policies that allow them to confidently recruit people with criminal records. The CD-Rom was originally developed for local authorities, however the content would be relevant for any employer.
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Resettlement of Women (ex) Offenders
This leaflet offers suggestions to enhance current resettlement work being conducted with female (ex)offenders. The guidance offered is based on extensive research and hands on working with women (ex)offenders under the remit of the SOVA led project 'Women into Work'. A key aspect of the Women into Work programme was to conduct peer research in order to identify barriers to employment, training and education for women (ex)offenders. Based on this research pilot projects were commissioned to address the barriers identified. This leaflet draws together key learning points from this process. It is aimed at those working towards the resettlement of women (ex)offenders, particularly those in the prison estate and those involved in employment, training and education provision.
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Working in Partnership
European projects can challenge the way in which agencies and organisations work together. This leaflet draws on evaluations across the Women into Work project to highlight ways in which partnership activity can be shaped and good practice identified. Government ministers continually suggest that joined-up practices will yield better outcomes yet partnership is an enduring if slightly misunderstood concept with many potential pitfalls. In this project partnership was required in a range of contexts.
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Women into Work Pilot Projects
Women into Work commissioned five pilot projects to address a number of education, training and employment needs identified in the findings of the Moving Mountains research. The research was undertaken by women who had themselves experienced the Criminal Justice System. Peer methodology formed a distinctive strand across the five projects, displayed in a variety of manners; peer support work, volunteer support work and peer network clubs.
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Working Successfully with Prisons
This leaflet offers a comprehensive guide to working successfully with prisons. It is aimed at organisations who are about to deliver/are delivering prison based programmes for prisoners. It offers advice and guidance on forging successful relationships with prison staff and working effectively within prison regimes. It draws on the extensive experience of the SOVA led project 'Women into Work'. A key aspect of the Women into Work programme was to conduct peer research in order to identify barriers to employment, training and education for women (ex)offenders. Based on this research pilot projects were commissioned to address the barriers identified. Some of the projects were prison based. Throughout the process useful learning points have been identified and these are outlined below.
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Making the Most of Transnational Working
Exploring more effective ways of resettling women into the community after leaving prison The Mikiri Transnational Partnership was an Equal-funded network comprised of projects from Sweden, France, Germany and the UK. Mikiri explored the complicated issues surrounding the resettlement of women leaving prison and re-entering the community and the labour market. Over the last two years, projects from the four member states have collaborated through exchanges of practice and practitioners, development of joint tools and jointly held events that explore innovations from each member state with a view to challenging policy and perspective and influencing practice.
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