JULY 2011 - Stoke-on-Trent City Council

18 Our City <strong>JULY</strong> <strong>2011</strong>Mums-to-beoffered helpand supportTHE Safer City Partnership isfunding a service that helpsmums-to-be who havesubstance misuse issues.The Pregnant Drug UserClinic, which is run by CRI, isbased at the antenatal clinicat the University Hospital ofNorth Staffordshire’sMaternity Unit.A team of communitynurses, midwives and otherhealth and wellbeing expertswork with women through allstages of their pregnancyoffering specialist advice andsupport.They look at all aspects oftheir lives including healthproblems related to drugmisuse that might beaffecting the unborn babies,as well as the wider socialpicture.Community Nurse KerriBates said:“We look at allaspects of their lives fromhealth problems to socialproblems and any issues thatmight be affecting them,such as domestic abuse.“We also work with otheragencies such as Adsis andthe Womens Project, andwhere possible we refer thewomen into their services.”Kerri added:“We haverecently encountered ageneral increase in thenumber of women referredto the clinic.“They are engaging reallywell with us and in mostcases are focussed onmoving on putting their druguse behind them so they canlook after their new-bornchild.“Our role is to aid them inthis recovery.”● For more informationabout the Pregnant DrugUser Clinic call 01782 212800.OFFENDERS took to the stage in aninnovative theatre project designed tooffer them a positive new beginning.The group of 17 actors, who are or have beenunder the supervision of Staffordshire and WestMidlands Probation Trust, starred in the playFor Better or Worse, performed in front of a100-strong audience at the New Vic Theatre inNewcastle-under-Lyme.Most members of the Chapter 2 theatregroup had a history of re-offending and at leasttwo of them were facing court appearances withthe risk of being sent to prison in view of theircriminal records.However the courts were impressed with thepositive impact of the project – a partnershipbetween <strong>Stoke</strong> on Trent College’s City Breakinitiative and the New Vic Theatre’s BorderlinesTheatre Company community scheme. Both ofA PROJECT is underway tosupport volunteers to tackleantisocial behaviour.The volunteers have beentrained by North StaffordshireMediation Service to deliverrestorative justice and familygroup conferencing. This is anapproach that focuses on theneeds of victims and offenders,instead of punishing the offender.Victims take an active role inthe process, while offenders areencouraged to take responsibilityfor their actions, repairing theharm they have done byapologising, returning stolenmoney, or through communityservice.The volunteers encouragedialogue between victims andoffenders, leading to the highestrates of victim satisfaction.Jon Connolly, who is theAntisocial Behaviour Lead fromthe Safer City Partnership, said:“Itis pleasing that we haveexcellent people who arecommitted to improvingcommunities.“These volunteers are highlymotivated people. I am lookingforward to them working toresolve issues around antisocialbehaviour and being able tohelp resolve issues that affectvictims and communities.”Volunteer Chris Smith hasbeen working with the Safer CityPartnership and StaffordshirePolice to tackle graffiti inBurslem Park.He said:“I hope the project issuccessful in giving victims theopportunity to receive reparationand an apology.”them supplied the courts with characterreferences with the result that none of theoffenders were given a custodial sentence.Before going into the spotlight, the castattended a series of half-day workshops over 12weeks, during which, each participant made apromise which was played over loudspeakersduring the performance. At the centre of theplay’s theme of “new beginnings” was thewedding of two characters whose choices areaffected by the people around them.Change their behaviourCity Break works with key companies andorganisations to support individuals with ahistory of re-offending but who want to changetheir behaviour. The award-winning Borderlinescommunity programme works with some ofNorth Staffordshire’s most disadvantagedcommunities.Actorstake part in oneof the innovativeChapter 2 workshopsat the New Vic Theatreand, inset, JamieSherratt with hiscertificate ofachievement.Cast of ex-offenders start anew chapter in their livesVolunteers help victims find justiceHelping victims and cutting antisocial behaviourare, left to right, Restorative Justice volunteers MarkCotton, Margaret Billingham, Emma Barbour, LauraPaterson, John Mosley and Amanda McDonald.The Chapter 2 project was jointly funded by<strong>Stoke</strong> on Trent College and The ManchesterCollege’s On Trak project, with support fromthe YSS voluntary organisation.<strong>Stoke</strong> on Trent College Project CoordinatorMike Thornley, who also acted in the play, said:“I’m so proud of the whole group. Theirdiligence, character and personalities shonethrough. For most of them this is just thebeginning. The New Vic say this was the one ofthe best collaborations they have had.“We will shortly be looking to develop asimilar programme and use some of the originalparticipants to support the new group.”One of the cast, 25-year-old offender JamieSherratt who is currently on probation, said: “Itwas a brilliant experience and one I will neverforget. It has had a positive effect and I feel thatwhat has happened will change my life for thebetter.”Opportunityto sign up totrain as asports coachINTERESTED in being aqualified sports coachvolunteer?The Safer CityPartnership is nowrecruiting for Tunstall,Burslem, Goldenhill andSandyford, JoinersSquare, Blurton Westand Newstead.For more info emaildavid.hardwick@stoke.gov.uk or tel 01782235001 or visit‘Streetgames <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent’ on Facebook.