Angie Kennedy, a member of our Church family, is Chief Executive of C2C Social Action, a brilliant local charity that many of you may have heard of and been involved in supporting before. Below is an update on the Charity at the moment with several opportunities for prayer and action.
It’s really exciting times at C2C Social Action, with new initiatives, and a whole change in how we work with the Probation Service.
We have a variety of ways that people and churches are able to support us, from coming to work for us in Milton Keynes, to volunteering to help in projects, sponsoring a women out of offending for £25 per month to praying for our God focused work.
However you feel called to support us, further details are below:
Sponsor “a women out of offending”
You know the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”, so it takes many supporters to enable a women to re-establish her life after offending.
Behind every female offender, there is a story. A story of perhaps, toxic relationships, abuse, poverty, housing issues, unemployment, or a life spent struggling with mental health issues.
We would like to invite you to “Sponsor a women out of offending”, to help break the cycle.
£25 per month will enable C2C to provide on going support for one of the 350 women we work with each year, ensuring that they can access services we provide on their journey out of offending.
For more details contact angie.kennedy@c2csocialaction.com or on our local giving page https://localgiving.org/charity/c2csocialaction/
Read “Sam’s Story” – One womens journey away from a toxic relationship
‘After a year of physical and mental abuse from my partner, I found myself in a position I never thought I would ever be in. I had been arrested on a night out for a serious incident against my partner and I was charged with ABH.
Arriving in court; I hadn’t told anyone that I was going that day, so I was on my own and I really didn’t know what to expect.
The courts duty solicitor had introduced himself and apologised that my own solicitor was unable to attend. I had about 20 minutes at this point to go through my case with him before I was due to go in front of the magistrates.
I remember being absolutely petrified, as I wasn’t sure if the solicitor understood enough about my situation but once in the court room, he presented my case and the magistrate ordered for a Presentence Report to be done.
My solicitor at this point had stressed to me just how serious things were and that there was a high chance I could receive a custodial sentence.
All I could think about were my children and family. I had never been in trouble with the police or even been in court before. I was terrified and felt, as they say ‘’like a deer caught in the headlights’’.
During my Presentencing Report, I had explained what life was like at home and that my mental health had deteriorated over the months running up to my offence. The probation officer took notice of this and said that I would benefit from some mental health treatment and that before I went back into the court room for sentencing, I would need to be assessed by a mental health nurse.
The nurse asked me a series of questions. I explained to her that I had tried to seek Mental Health Treatment before through my GP, as I had had a long run of depression over the years.
After the assessment the nurse had agreed that I would benefit from a Mental Health Treatment Requirement. The probation officer bought in a support worker from the local woman’s centre, who said that weekly support from them would also be beneficial.
It was at this moment that it all started to sink in and I felt sick with worry.
The support worker from the woman’s centre, Michelle, could see just how terrified and distressed I was and sat with me before I went back into the court room. I remember her holding my hand for reassurance.
After going back in front of the magistrates, I was sentenced to 6 months Mental Health Support along with a number of rehabilitation support days.
The treatment I received with the assistant psychologist and support worker was second to none! I finally had someone to talk to about my mental health and they were listening.
The treatment was extremely tough going at times and by no means an easy task. I found it difficult to face the issues I had but learnt that in order to move forward I had to deal with it head on.
I was given the tools to work through my mental illness and I had to work hard at it for me to actually live my life again.
At the end of my order, I was scared and anxious that the support I had relied on so heavily would disappear, and I would be back to square 1. Back to the abusive partner and back to my old life.
But with the continued support of C2C I was able to work on myself and completed several courses that the woman’s centre provided. I built up my confidence and worked tirelessly to better myself.
I am now a volunteer and trustee for the amazing charity that helped me to rebuild my life. It’s important for me to be able to give back and help those that are or have been in similar situation to mine.
My life has been turned around with huge thanks to the C2C Social Action. The treatment I received has guided me and given me a new perspective on life.
I dread to think how my life would have turned out had I been sent to prison that day and not been able to access the continuing support I now have
The C2C programme gives individuals like me the chance to prove, not only to society but to myself that I can be a better person and I am able with the guidance from those that work within the programme, to live a better life.
This funding is to provide women who have finished their community court order with ongoing support, enabling them to break the cycle of offending. This will be achieved by offering on-line and face-to-face mental health courses, and counselling to ensure the positive steps made during the community order are continued’
Job vacancy
C2C Social Action is very excited to have an opportunity to join the team, based in Milton Keynes.
Following the great success of the start of the Milton Keynes Community Sentencing Treatment Requirements Project, we are excited to announce two new vacancies:
We currently have two posts available (one part time 18 hours pw and one full time 37.5 hours pw) for two motivated Criminal Justice Link Workers to contribute towards the delivery of Community Sentences and Custody to Community Rehabilitation, in partnership with NHS England, National Probation Service and a number of other statutory and third sector agencies.
The project delivers high quality support to adult offenders with varying needs, including risky offending behaviour, mental health difficulties, domestic abuse, substance misuse, debt and homelessness.
The key tasks are to work as an active team player, working with service users to identify areas of need, work with agencies to provide the relevant support, ensuring excellent record keeping and time management, whilst managing your own workload. It is essential to be able to communicate at all levels and ensure risk assessments are carried out to promote safe working practices.
For a full Job Description please email michelle.shaw@c2csocialaction.com
Closing date: 12 noon Monday 21st June 2021
Volunteers Needed
Social MediaAre you a whiz at social media? Can you update websites? Can get people talking about C2C and the wonderful initiatives we have? We would love to speak to you. Please contact angie.kennedy@c2csocialaction.com for more details
Male mentorsComing out of prison after a long time away can be very daunting. So much has changed, cars move faster, towns look different, the way we use money has changed. We are looking for Male Mentors, who will come alongside the men we work with, as they rebuild their lives after a prison term. If you are interested to know more, please contact angie.kennedy@c2csocialaction.com
Knife Angel supporters
If you don’t know already, The Knife Angel is coming to the county in May 2022, for its long awaited visit, and we are looking to develop a team to support this visit. If you would like to know more, please contact keith.holland-delamere@c2csocialaction.com
And finally …..pray!C2C Social Action has God’s work at its centre. Please pray for:
- Our service Users, past, present and future, that they would become the people God knows they have the potential of being
- For the families and friends that support each service user
- For our staff, and volunteers, that God blesses them, and gives them the resources, time and energy to continue the work they are doing.
- For the partners and professionals C2C works with across the county
- For funding provision. That if its Gods will for C2C to do provide a service, God will provide the funding.
- And that we can continue to be a shining light in the community.
Kind regards
Angie
