Circles South West welcomes BBC South West coverage highlighting importance of community-led rehabilitation
Circles South West are grateful for the recent BBC South West News coverage highlighting the charity’s work and the challenges it now faces following the withdrawal of government funding.
The feature explores how Circles of Support and Accountability operate across the South West, engaging carefully selected and trained volunteers to support and monitor individuals convicted of sexual offences after their release from prison. It also reflects on the wider impact of the charity’s work in reducing re-offending and protecting communities.
The TV and online articles include perspectives from staff, volunteers and a Core Member who has completed a Circle, offering a rare insight into how community-based rehabilitation works in practice and why it matters.
Importantly, the coverage also raises concerns about the future of the service after the Ministry of Justice confirmed that funding will end in August, placing ongoing delivery at risk.
The BBC South West coverage highlights:
- The role of volunteers in building safer communities
- The evidence-based approach to reducing risk and preventing harm
- The growing demand for services across the region
- The potential impact of losing a significant funding stream for this work.
Jamie Stephenson, Co-ordinator at Circles South West, said:
“We’re grateful to the BBC for highlighting both the impact of our work and the challenges we now face. Raising awareness is vital—not just for our future, but for the safety of our communities.”
Circles South West has worked with around 400 individuals since 2010 and continues to operate across seven counties, supporting some of the most complex cases referred by police and probation services.
The organisation is now urging decision-makers, partners and the wider community to engage with the issue and consider the importance of sustained investment in preventative, community-led approaches.
Read the full article
To learn more about the work of Circles South West and the issues raised, read the BBC News article in full here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2wz7d60zno
Watch the news piece
Watch the coverage in full here
