St Mungo’s helps London’s young offenders as part of pioneering programme launched by Boris Johnson and Jack Straw

05 November 2009

St Mungo's is part of a partnership which will help support young men in Feltham Young Offenders Institution (YOI) turn their back on crime - a pioneering project launched today, 5 November, by Justice Secretary Jack Straw and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The Heron Unit is the UK's first dedicated resettlement unit for 15 - 17 year olds who have demonstrated a commitment to changing their criminal pasts.

It is a key part of the Mayor's youth plan 'Time for Action' and helps to deliver the Government's £100 million Youth Crime Action Plan. The establishment of Heron has been delivered through the London Criminal Justice Board (CJB), a partnership which brings together criminal justice agencies in London and the Mayor's office.

Offenders referred to the Heron Unit, located inside Feltham YOI, will be placed on a programme designed to tackle their offending behaviour. This includes one-to-one help in finding somewhere to live; getting important life skills and finding a job. They will be prepared to make a positive contribution to their local communities when they leave custody.

This programme, called Daedalus, is being delivered by a consortium of St Mungo's, St Giles Trust, Kensington and Chelsea College and is led by youth training and support agency Rathbone.

Iver Morgan of St Mungo's is Daedalus project manager. He said: "Jack Straw and Boris Johnson were able to see the Heron Unit first hand but more importantly to talk to some of those young men we'll be supporting over the coming months with re-settlement and skills training so they can move as smoothly as possible from prison back into the community.

"We're very pleased to be part of this partnership venture, which seeks to give people potentially at risk of homelessness with the skills and support to break a cycle of crime."

See more about the launch at the Mayor of London's website and through initiative coordinators the London Criminal Justice Board.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • Contact Judith Higgin, St Mungo's, on 020 8762 5645, email: judith.higgin@mungos.org
  • Rathbone, which delivers training and youth support from 84 centres in the UK, is leading the Daedalus consortium of providers with expertise in reducing re-offending by successfully resettling offenders into the community. St Mungo's staff are currently already working in HMP Feltham YOI to support young male offenders out through the gates; St Giles Trust is a reducing re-offending support charity; and Kensington & Chelsea College is a further education establishment experienced in delivering offender learning.
  • Find out more about St Mungo's offender services.
  • St Mungo's provides emergency help and runs over 100 projects that house and support homeless people's recovery and prevent rough sleeping. Every year we help thousands of people to make permanent life changes.

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