Sova Support Link and Autism
Sova Support Link diversifies its provision to support high functioning autistic offenders in London and Leeds.
As an extension of Sova Support Link, we are delighted to announce that the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is funding Sova to diversify its model of care in the community to provide volunteer mentor support to high-functioning autistic spectrum disordered (ASD) adult ex-offenders. This extension is being piloted in South London and Leeds in partnership with local probation, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The pilot will be evaluated and the learning will be disseminated.
Since 2009, Sova Support Link has worked across London providing 2-3 volunteer mentors to adults with lifelong psychological needs and a history of offending behaviour. Our aim is to improve our service users' quality of life by helping people gain confidence and reintegrate into their local community. However, we have noticed that for those ex-offenders who are on the autistic spectrum, there is little support. Many offenders who have high functioning autism are excluded from community services as they often ‘don’t fit’ with autism services or support services for offenders. This exclusion only increases the risk of reoffending and at Sova we recognise that we can provide volunteers to support people in the community using a similar model of care to that which we use with ex-offenders with lifelong psychological needs.
For this innovative project we are looking for volunteers in both the London and Leeds areas who are motivated and committed to supporting an ex-offender with ASD. No experience is necessary as full training will be provided, however, we are looking for volunteers who are reliable and can provide structure and consistency as well as social support for this group of service users. So please contact Sova Support Link if you are interested or pass on this opportunity to those who might be interested.
Since 2009, Sova Support Link has worked across London providing 2-3 volunteer mentors to adults with lifelong psychological needs and a history of offending behaviour. Our aim is to improve our service users' quality of life by helping people gain confidence and reintegrate into their local community. However, we have noticed that for those ex-offenders who are on the autistic spectrum, there is little support. Many offenders who have high functioning autism are excluded from community services as they often ‘don’t fit’ with autism services or support services for offenders. This exclusion only increases the risk of reoffending and at Sova we recognise that we can provide volunteers to support people in the community using a similar model of care to that which we use with ex-offenders with lifelong psychological needs.
For this innovative project we are looking for volunteers in both the London and Leeds areas who are motivated and committed to supporting an ex-offender with ASD. No experience is necessary as full training will be provided, however, we are looking for volunteers who are reliable and can provide structure and consistency as well as social support for this group of service users. So please contact Sova Support Link if you are interested or pass on this opportunity to those who might be interested.