Covid-19 has significantly exacerbated the issues young people affected by the criminal justice system face.
This summer, as the country begins to open up and we re-start our coaching programmes, we are taking part in the Champions for Children match-funding campaign, supported by The Childhood Trust.
The campaign begins today and runs for seven days (8 – 15th June) – during the campaign, all donations via our campaign page will be doubled!
Young people in prison have paid a high price in the pandemic. Often forgotten by the media, many are spending over 23 hours a day locked in their cell, with no family visits, face to face education or rehabilitation. Without the right support, there will undoubtedly be a long-term negative impact on individuals’ mental health and future opportunities.
We know almost everyone in prison wants to choose a different path. Spark Inside believes that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential, so they can contribute to our society.
Our innovative coaching programmes will enable young people in and on release from prison to overcome the impact of Covid-19, to build brighter futures for themselves. We’re taking part in the Champions for Children campaign to raise funding to deliver our Hero’s Journey life coaching programme for young people both in prison, and in the community via our partnerships with London Youth Offending Services. With the funds raised, we will also:
- Continue to run our in-prison advisory boards, so that young people in prison have a voice and can feedback ideas on our programmes, including in relation to the impact of Covid-19.
- Monitor, evaluate and improve our programmes, to ensure they are improving young people’s decision-making, empathy, resilience, future outlook and wellbeing, whilst contributing to a reduction in reoffending.
- Advocate publicly for people in prison who have experienced the worst impact of lockdown during Covid-19, amplifying their voices where we can.
Our campaign target is £12,000, and for every £1 you donate, we receive £2!