Story
Hi! I’m Rich and thanks so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I am passionate about helping people move forward in life and especially those who have found or find life challenging.
So in line with my 50th Birthday (16/07/24) my goal is to raise £50,000 to support the incredible work of WYCCP, whom I am privileged to be a part of.
WYCCP support men leaving prison and help them in resettling back into society. We also support the families of those men both practically and emotionally.
We believe that people really do matter and everyone deserves a second chance and an opportunity for a fresh start.
One of my ideas to help facilitate this, was to create a weekly group for the men to get involved in, we call this Fresh-Start.
The aim is to create a positive environment, where the men can start to look forward and be encouraged to start building healthier habits and structure in their lives. The message to them is that their past doesn't have to dictate their future.
As well as enjoying various social activities and trips, there is also a real focus on community action and getting involved in giving back to society, by taking part in projects which benefit the wider community.
As well as the Fresh-Start project, another area of support we offer the men and their families, is our free of charge counselling service. This is something I am really passionate about as I am currently training to be a counsellor and will be fully qualified in 2025.
Our counselling service consists of volunteer counsellors and student counsellors and we work within the BACP framework, which is the largest governing body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK.
Given the circumstances of the men and their families, it has a huge impact on their mental health and the fact that they can access a free counselling service is such a lifeline for them.
Helpful Info:
WYCCP is a small independent charity and we rely heavily on charitable donations, as we receive no government funds.
It costs £898 to keep a man in prison for one week.
It costs WYCCP just £77 a week to support a man and help keep him out of prison.
It costs over £46,000 to keep a man in prison for a year and over the last year we have intensively supported 39 men who have stayed out of prison for a year or more. This means that we have saved the state over 1.8 million pounds!
WYCCP has excellent success rates, based on nearly ten years monitoring figures we expect that 70% of the men we have worked with significantly, will not return to prison, the WYCCP way really works!
The below are genuine quotes from some of our service users.
On leaving prison, I was very scared, angry and lonely and if it had not have been for everybody at WYCCP, I know I’d have gone straight back in prison. - Colin, 29.
This is the only place I’ve been that has made a real difference to my life. - Tom, 64.
I don’t think I would be where I am now if it wasn’t for WYCCP…they found me accommodation and then helped me to claim the correct benefits but also contacted me every week to see if I was ok. I think they are GREAT! - Billy, 48
My experience of the counselling service from the start – it was really a life saver for me. - Family member
So, my plan is to take on a variety of challenges throughout the year to reach my target.
I really do appreciate you considering donating and it will enable WYCCP to continuing making a difference in an area which is so needed.
Many Thanks
Rich