StandOut’s New Normal
Unexpected beginnings
Although I only joined StandOut in January this year, my work so far has certainly been unexpected and varied! At the start of my first Pentonville course in February none of us could have predicted that it would be cut short two days before graduation, or that six months later we would still be having our team meetings via Zoom. It goes without saying that we have all had to overcome a range of challenges throughout this time.here have also been silver linings and opportunities: personally, working with people often in crisis situations has given me a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by people leaving prison.
“You should work for the Housing Department! I have been thrown from pillar to post for three days trying to sort this and you have helped me sort everything in three hours. I can’t thank you enough.”
Working from home still makes up the majority of my time, but my weeks are also filled with variety. I go into Pentonville twice a week to advertise the StandOut Helpline to everyone due for release. This contact allows me to build a picture of someone's needs and, through conversations through a cell door, to build rapport in a way that a leaflet alone cannot do. Then when I am on Helpline duty I am picking up the calls and supporting people, helping them take practical steps and being a voice of encouragement as they face a world that can feel bewildering. The Helpline has presented a steep learning curve as you never really know what you are going to be faced with. More than once I've had a conversation with a caller who, faced with challenges over accomodation and delays in universal credit payments, felt like his best option was to return to prison and where success on the call was to persuade him to find some hope. These are challenging scenarios to deal with and I am fortunate that I can turn to dedicated and knowledgeable colleagues for advice.
Now a few months in, we can see some of the journeys that our Helpline callers have been on. One gentleman, Paul, was released to temporary accommodation (a hotel) in July and called the Helpline on his day of release to get information about how to claim benefits. A few weeks later, he called in a state of despair as he had not eaten in days, so I issued him a Foodbank voucher and pointed him to the few soup kitchens that were still operating. With his immediate needs met, over time we were able to improve Paul’s quality of life thanks to a StandOut Grant. We provided him with a smartphone so he could access services online and feel less isolated, and issued a voucher so he could buy new clothes (a small expense that allowed him the luxury of a fresh pair of socks!). Now, a month after release, Paul is feeling more optimistic and we are supporting him to get his CSCS card so he can pursue his plan to work in construction.
“I can’t wait to get my CSCS card so I can start work and get some structure back in my life. You have been amazing and I couldn’t have done this much without your help and support!”
Our work over the last few months has stretched and tested us, but I feel lucky to be part of a charity that did not settle for waiting for things to blow over, and instead saw a need and stepped in to help. I look forward to the day that we are back coaching groups in the prison, but hope that StandOut’s post-Covid ‘new normal’ will feature the adapted support and the Helpline that we have been offering throughout this time.