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Andy Dunbobbin visited Penygroes to see how charitable organisation, Y Bont, is helping North Wales women who are leaving prison and aiding their return to family life
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, visited the headquarters of Y Bont in Penygroes, on 8 December to see how funding from his Innovate to Grow initiative is helping to support women and their families affected by imprisonment in North Wales.
The project, called Cwlwm, is being spearheaded by Y Bont, the charitable organisation based in Penygroes that works to meet the needs of children and young people who, for whatever reason, are separated – or are at risk of being separated – from their families, and to give them support.
The aim of the Cwlwm project is to offer every North Wales woman leaving Styal Prison in Cheshire an opportunity to access Y Bont’s Conflict Resolution Service, so they can plan post-release contact and living arrangements for their children.
All women who make use of the Conflict Resolution Service will be able to access Y Bont’s Family Group Conference (FGC) and/or mediation service to help facilitate the plans for children. An FGC is a family meeting where families make plans and decisions about a child or adult. The values and principles of an FGC and mediation are based on recognising families' strengths and, by doing this, Y Bont empowers families, promotes collective responsibility, and mobilises resources within the family to help the woman and her children.
The fully bilingual service makes contact with all women from North Wales who are at Styal Prison. Representatives from Y Bont visit the prison on a monthly basis to hold a drop-in session for the women and identify those who will be on a pathway to leaving Styal and would like to be involved in making a plan for their child or children.
While at the Y Bont base in Penygroes, Andy Dunbobbin met representatives from the staff and trustees and was updated on the Cwlwm project and the wider work of Y Bont. Present from Y Bont were Gwyn Hefin Jones, Chairman of the Trustees; Val Owen, Trust Director; Mel Phillips, FGC Co-ordinator; and Maureen Japp, Project Manager.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: “It was inspirational to see Y Bont’s work in action and to see how they are helping and supporting families to remain strong and united during some of the most difficult times a family can experience – when a parent has been imprisoned. The activities also support my recently launched Women’s Justice Strategy, specifically resettlement after custody and opportunities post-release for women.
“I am determined to help support exciting, innovative and rewarding projects to help tackle crime and exclusion across the region. To do this, we need to invest in the community-level projects that are thinking and acting in new and novel ways to stop crime and reoffending. Y Bont put forward a strong and ambitious proposal around how they wish to make a difference and strengthen the communities they work with. I would like to congratulate them on their success in obtaining funding through the Innovate to Grow initiative.
“My Police and Crime Plan commits to delivering safer neighbourhoods in North Wales, to supporting victims and communities, and to ensuring a fair and effective criminal justice system for all. I’d encourage any organisation that thinks they fit the criteria of Innovate to Grow to get in touch and apply, so that they can act with us to build on their good work and deliver the safer and more secure North Wales we all wish to see.”
Maureen Japp, Project Manager at Y Bont said: "It was a pleasure to welcome the Police and Crime Commissioner here to Y Bont to see our work. The outcome we hope to see with the Cwlwm project is improved communication between families, and safe, well-thought-out, plans for family life. We believe that the mental health and wellbeing of mothers leaving prison is improved as they are involved in decisions being made about their children."
Y Bont has been running an FGC Service since 1994, and a Mediation Service since 2010. They work with Social Services and Families First teams in North Wales to provide services to families from prevention at early stages of care and support needs, to Intervention when children are in the child protection or care system.
The Innovate to Grow funding initiative complements the priorities within the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, as well as his Community Oriented Police Service (COPS) approach to serve all communities across North Wales. Examples of projects eligible for Innovate to Grow support include those covering youth services, early intervention, and adverse childhood experiences; drug, alcohol and substance misuse services; and organisations working to combat domestic abuse, sexual violence, and violence against women and girls. The important thing is that they offer new and innovative ways of solving the problems that can often lead to criminal behaviour.
Andy Dunbobbin has allocated £100,000 to Innovate to Grow to support projects for up to one year, with the main focus being on innovation. A maximum of £5,000 is available for each project; however, should the project be delivered across two or more counties, a maximum of £10,000 will be offered.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be not-for-profit and must complete a business plan. The plan must align to one of the Commissioner’s policing priorities. All organisations also need to ensure they have a Welsh Language, Equal Opportunities and Social Value policy in place and show how they will be integrating these areas into the delivery of the project.
For further information on the Innovate to Grow project and how to apply, click here.
For further information on Y Bont, visit: https://www.bont.org.uk/en/