Blog

My day starts at 6am – with a long drive from Aberdeen to Inverness in order to start my working day.

My first client “J” and I recently applied for a small grant from a charity aimed towards developing interests of unemployed people. Today we are going to a second-hand camera shop to see if it’s reasonable for her to be able to get a camera and a bike with the money, this looks quite positive.

Today starts as usual with emails and deskwork (the women I work with don’t generally reply to calls or manage to meet before 10am).

My first session is a walk with "A", former rough sleeper and chronic alcoholic, who likes being outside and talks more freely on the go. She values the peace and ‘headspace’ away from alcohol-related ties. Today we talk about some extensive upcoming dentistry she’s dreading - I will accompany her.

The Scottish Government has recently announced the extension of funding for Shine into the financial year 2017/2018.  Speaking shortly after the announcement, Tom Halpin, Chief Executive of Sacro – the lead partner for Shine – said “This welcome news offers reassurance to everyone involved in providing support through Shine to vulnerable women in Scotland. I am grateful to Scottish Government for its commitment to sustaining the work we do.”

The Scottish Government have now launched draft documents outlining the new model for community justice. This model has been drawn up in the light of the planned establishment of Community Justice Scotland and folllowing the decision to replace Community Justice Authorities with Community Justice Partners as of 2017.

Excellent article in Holyrood magazine on the challenges faced in reforming the use of custody for female offenders.  read more: