Devon Forces Family Web Site

This website-   https://www.devonforcesfamily.org.uk/about/has been developed by the Devon Armed Forces Community Wellbeing Partnership (DAFCWP). This partnership provides strategic direction to improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces Community living in Devon.

In September 2014 the DAFCWP published a South West Peninsula Veteran’s Health Needs Assessment. This report found that, of the approximately 107,000 veterans living in Devon, a large proportion had a positive experience of serving in the Armed Forces. However, a minority experienced adverse physical and mental health problems, which could be compounded by other factors such as financial and welfare problems.

This website provides an online directory of services provided for service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families living in Devon. It provides topic overviews, links to relevant information and services and access to support, including those leaving prison -https://www.devonforcesfamily.org.uk/leaving-prison/

VCP Crowd Funding Appeal

We have started a new Crowd Funding appeal towards the work of the Veterans Change Partnership.  All donations are gratefully appreciated.  Please tell your friends and colleagues; thank you.

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/veteranschangepartnership

Developing Entrepreneurial talent among offenders.

In-prison entrepreneurship programmes could play a key role in preventing re-offending, according to a report by Sheena Leaf, who spent eight weeks in Norway and the USA researching programmes aimed at rehabilitating offenders through developing their entrepreneurial skills.

This report serves to highlight the positive outcomes that arise from such provision and demonstrates that punishment alone is the least effective way of reducing re-offending. 

See - http://www.wcmt.org.uk/fellows/news/developing-entrepreneurial-talent-among-offenders

The Liminal Space - Understanding Imprisonment and Detention Comparitively

Professor Francis Pakes gives his enlightening thoughts on prisons and their impact upon reducing re-offending -  https://vimeo.com/148992275 , comparing the UK / Dutch models with that of Norway.

His lecture is a must for those who have an interest in reducing re-offending and the notions of freedom vs custody and what he describes as the spiritual dimension and the normalisation and care of prisoners.  If  the UK were to establish similar approaches, the financial and human savings could be significant.

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The Forgotten WAR - Northern Ireland

When reflecting back to the 70's it is not difficult to understand why so many military veterans have gone on to experience mental illness and ended up entering the CJS. -

The impact upon their families must also not be forgotten!