Leaving Custody
Welcome to our local offer for those young people in or who have just left custody.
Here you will find information about the support that is available to young people who are in custody or have recently left custody aged 16-25.
You will be allocated a Young Person Advisor (YPA) who will support you during your time in custody and when you leave. This booklet outlines some of the support available to you.
Support while you are in custody:
- A visit from your YPA either 8 or 12 weekly depending on your needs and wants.
- You will be able to receive letters, emails or video calls from your YPA between these visits.
- You will receive a Birthday and Christmas present from your YPA
- Your YPA will make sure you have all your relevant ID documents.
- The REACH Team will help you store your personal belongings, so they are safe on your release.
- You can have access to a “Grand Mentor Pen Pal” who will write to you and keep in touch with you during your time in custody.
- You can have access to your Families Working Together Team who can help you renew and repair your relationships with your Friends and Family.
- The Reach Team has a custody champion who provides targeted support, attends meetings with HMPPS and supports other team members with any custody sessions.
- If you are in custody at HMP Brinsford you will have access to a quarterly drop-in session with the REACH Team YPA who is our Custody Champion. The Custody Champion will be available to see all Wolverhampton care leavers and to answer any questions from them or prison staff.
Planning for your release:
- 6 weekly custody meetings will be held to ensure all and that plans are in place for accommodation and Employment Education and Training (EET)you’re your release.
- EET Advisors will support you to gain help from the Shaw Trust and other organisations that will prepare you for EET opportunities on your release.
- You could be provided with an extra £10 per month, added to your PIN, to keep in touch with your friends or family if you are actively engaging with EET support.
Support for you when you are released:
- Your YPA will meet you upon your release, unless you have made other arrangements with friends or family.
- Your YPA will support with the purchase of religious items to help you continue to practice your faith.
- Your YPA will support you with your first benefits appointment and make sure you are accessing all financial support available to you.
- If you are aged 19+ you will have access to the “Ask Jan” service. You can have free access to the Ask Jan app. The app can help care experienced young people access advice and support around their mental health as well as other benefits.
- You will have access to a “Release Pack” to help you when you are first released. Your pack will contain:
- Toiletries
- Food
- Calendar/Diary – if required
- List of local contacts and support
- A copy of our Local Offer to you
- Clothing voucher
- Access to a mobile phone if you do not already have one