Welcome to Gibran UK

This section will be updated shortly.

You're not alone

Most of the women that we meet although from different walks of life all commonly share experiences around prison or having a criminal record. Don't dismay there is light at the end of the tunnel and remember you are not the only one!

If you would like to share an experience here then please do get in touch or e-mail us your thoughts and comments. All posts onto the website will be kept strictly confidential and NO names will ever be displayed on the site.

Here are some examples of the work that the Going Home team deliver on a daily basis.

Going Home Case Studies

(no names have been used to protect the identity of the people with whom we work)

Case Study 1

'Case Study 1' greatly appreciates the support and understanding from the peer mentors in making her feel less isolated and like she is not the only women to ever commit an offence.

In the future 'Case Study 1' is considering going back into education, but would still like continued support where relevant and could benefit from gaining more confidence and assertiveness. 'Case Study 1' now calls when she is in need of support which is a reflection of how her confidence has grown.

Case Study 2

YOUNG (19), HOMELESS, Prison leaver, care leaver, Poly DRUG USER (alcohol, cannabis, tobacco), suffered maternal abuse as child, no family support whatsoever. No education. Very poor diet. Negative attitudes towards law enforcement, very poor relationship and engagement with probation. Inappropriate ideas of family planning and participating in risky sexual activity. Physically abusive to her male partner.

Her communication, assertiveness, interpersonal skills and attitude improved significantly through persistence, encouragement and pro-social modelling from a peer mentor.

'Case Study 2' said that she finally felt things were different and that she did not feel so negative about her life. She understands that she has a long road ahead of her, but really wants to try and find a way to be living what she calls a 'normal life'. Her engagement has been excellent.

Case Study 3

Young mother referred by probation initially for emotional support. Sofa surfing. Children in the care of the local authority and living with paternal grandmother (who works f/t), through failure to protect from a partner. Previous suggestion of drug use around children. Has supervised contact, and social services looking to rehabilitation. Partner in prison. Previously suffered domestic violence. Suffering from depression. Employed but on low income and 'Case Study 3' has previously put her on the sick through depression and ill health. Due to employment status access to support, hotels and legal aid has been denied. Debt (arrears) and difficulty maintaining tenancies.

Emotional support and accompanying to case/LAC reviews with Social services. Advocacy with probation, social services and solicitors. Homelessness and housing applications. Keeping a diary of appointments to prevent breech and to ensure appointments are kept. Encouraging positive attitudes towards social workers and law enforcement agencies. Repairing relationships or at least attitude towards 'mother in law' (paternal grandparent).

Visit Day from Big Lottery

We were recently visited by the CEO of the Big Lottery Fund Peter Wanless and Acting Director Wales Mr John Rose accompanied by Mike Hardy from the NAW

We had already planned for that day a training event for our new peer mentors and decided to carry on with `business as usual`.

We enlisted a few of our more experienced peer mentors to meet with Peter, John and Mike and to talk to them about their experiences.

Peter wrote to us saying that:

“It was an honour and a privilege to meet so many people associated with the success of the project. Very best wishes with your continued efforts to make such an important difference to people`s lives”.

John also wrote to us telling is that Peter had been ‘inspired by our project’ and had reported to the SMT the impact of our work. John added that it was “inspiring to meet the women involved in the project, to learn about your successes and witness the real difference you are making with lottery money”.

There is only room for me to say ‘Thank You’ to all of my team and the women we work with. We are fortunate enough in these difficult times to know that we have secure funding until Feb 2013. We have an experienced competent team of key workers and peer mentors; ready to accept your referrals!