Caring For Ex-Offenders

Caring for Ex-Offenders (CFEO) helps local churches to reduce crime by reintegrating ex-offenders into the community.

How can we reintegrate former prisoners into a society where many have always been marginalised?

CFEO equips churches, through training and monitorship, enabling them to provide support to ex-offenders and help them live transformed lives.

To support those coming out of Prison the CFEO network trains communities to be Caring For Ex-Offender Communities. These communities will meet someone coming out of prison at the gate and provide mentoring, friendship and practical support such as accommodation and help with job training and employment. The recidivism rate can be dramatically reduced when these basic needs are met.

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INGREDIENTS

To replicate this project your church will need to:

• identify a passion and a need to care for ex-offenders in the local community;
• marshal a committed and compassionate group of church volunteers;
• attend a free half day training workshop, either online or face-to-face;
• access free training materials (online and hardcopy if required);
• establish contact with a William Wilberforce State Co-Ordinator and obtain guidance and support;

METHOD

Steps to run this project:

1. Identify and select prospective volunteers
2. Contact a William Wilberforce State Co-Ordinator via the website;
3. Complete an in-depth risk evaluation, guided by the William Wilberforce Foundation;
4. Agree a suitable date and time for the free training;
5. Access free on-line training materials;
6. Liaise with the William Wilberforce State Co-Ordinator to select and match the appropriate mentoring volunteer/s with the mentees. This could be 12 months before the release date.

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To find out more visit www.wilberforcefoundation.org.au/get_involved_cfeo

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“When I came out of prison someone met me.  From being met at the gate and being driven to a house where I had a roof, food and clothes provided for me.  I didn't have to steal for food.  That’s a huge deal!  All those things were done for me: helping with somewhere to live and also to find somewhere to work, but more so than that - helping me to find the direction. - Anonymous Ex-Offender

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