The groundbreaking project reimagines probation services with communities at its core.
Thomas Horton, the Strategy Lead for His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in Wales, is working with the SVP on the Grand Avenues project in Cardiff.
Thomas (pictured right) says: “It’s an exciting opportunity and the most important thing is the role local communities can play in reducing reoffending and supporting people to thrive.
“Across the system, we have programmes and interventions and all those types of things, but for people on probation, the most transformative aspect is feeling really rooted in a local community and giving them a new identity.
“So, they go from that person who did that bad thing in the community, that person who was in prison six months ago, to someone who does positive things that aren’t associated with their offending behaviour. The impact of this has genuinely been transformational and we’re seeing success stories in quite a short period of time.”
One such success story is Raihan Miah, who now works as a Community Peer Worker for the SVP on the project. His amazing journey is one of two parts, all within a short space of time. The 24-year-old admits he “made some mistakes” and these landed him in HMP Cardiff. When he was released from prison in August 2022, his probation officer introduced him to St Vincent’s Ely Bridge.
He says: “I was there because I was told to be and to be honest, I didn’t really appreciate the value of it. In October, I had a dip in my mental health again and breached my licence on purpose to get myself recalled back to jail - I felt I was better off there.”
Raihan admits it was naivety on his part and being oblivious to “what was in front of him”, but a short while later and out of prison again, he found his way back to the Ely Bridge centre and was welcomed with open arms:
“I realised that people actually cared, they genuinely wanted to help and wanted what was best for me. In November, I started to get more involved with everything and to engage a lot more - the next thing I knew, I was offered a job.
“It changed everything: within six weeks, I went from being in jail to being a peer mentor, offering support to the community I grew up in. It baffles me but I’m so grateful for it.”
The peer mentoring sees Raihan supporting his “boys” (aged 21-plus) on probation with anything they need. This ranges from benefits and housing advice, to getting GP appointments, or simply being a friend. Thomas says this slightly different approach to service delivery is key to the success of the project. “We often talk about focussing on what’s strong and not what’s wrong, but whether you’re a big government department or a small community group, we all have a different role to play in supporting people to recognise the unique skills and gifts and talents they bring to their community.” Raihan agrees and says his own mental health issues drastically affected his life and he is keen to help his mentees with this: “Everyone shies away from talking about it but I really want to break that cycle and say it’s ok not to be ok.” One way Raihan is helping is through the St Vincent’s podcast SVP Changing Lives Mental Health Matters. Started in March, he uses the platform to talk about different aspects of mental health, his and other people’s journeys and “to emphasise all the goodness going on in this community.” Nathan Harding, St Vincent's Ely Bridge Centre Manager, says: "It's a great honour to be working with HMPPS on the Grand Avenues project. Letting people know they are more than their mistakes and showing them love, kindness and respect is such a privilege. At St Vincent's Ely Bridge, we work to change lives and support the local community. This project allows us to do this in abundance”.
The podcast St Vincent's Changing Lives - Mental Health Matters hosted by Raihan and Stacey is available on Spotify:
