Delivering circles of support and accountability to protect communities from sexual harm and sexual reoffending
When I first went for the Volunteer Coordinator job at Circles South West 10 years ago, I had never heard of the charity. I didn’t move in the criminal justice […]
The RSVP is a set of structured professional judgement guidelines for the assessment and management of risk for sexual violence, designed to help evaluators make two major decisions; the first […]
Circles South West (CSW) is inviting supporters to join a simple yet powerful initiative through easyfundraising, a platform that turns your online shopping into free donations for the charity. With over 8,000 […]
SUI has always been a challenge for CSW due to service user risk and restrictions, and the importance of maintaining their anonymity. However, we understand the value it brings and […]
The AIM3 Model is based on a clear theoretical framework and evidence base. It identifies a young person’s strengths (protective factors) and concerns (risk factors) across the following 5 ‘domains’: […]
Launched in 1984, this initiative has been running for over 40 years, providing organisations and communities a platform to thank current and past volunteers for their invaluable efforts. The campaign […]
This blog was originally published on the University of Birmingham College of Social Sciences blog ‘Adolescence’, a recent Netflix drama about a boy who stabs and murders a girl from school […]
Ending violence against women and girls is a priority of my Police and Crime Plan. While sexual offences are committed against both genders, it is largely a crime impacting women […]
Easyfundraising is a platform that turns everyday shopping into a way to support good causes. By partnering with many retailers, easyfundraising lets people raise money for charities like Circles South […]
Coordinating 41 Circles Across the Region This week we are coordinating 41 Circles of Support and Accountability across South West England. Circles provide a structured and supportive environment for individuals […]
In the digital age, the internet offers vast resources and opportunities for learning, entertainment, and communication. However, it also harbours dark corners where illicit activities, such as the creation, distribution […]
The speech, rich with personal reflections and professional insights, painted a vivid picture of the evolving role of VCS organizations in supporting and rehabilitating offenders. A Journey Through Time: From […]
The programme aims to help explore offending behaviour in a structured, supportive environment. Find more information about Inform Plus here. Circles South West (CSW) were commissioned by the Office of […]
Reducing high harm and ending violence against women and girls are priorities of my Police and Crime Plan. While sexual offences are committed against both genders, it is largely a […]
Since their inception, Circles have played a crucial role in supporting the risk management of people convicted of sexual offences, thereby helping to make communities safer. From these small beginnings, […]
Inform Young People (IYP) The Inform Young People (IYP) programme targets young people aged 13-21 who have encountered trouble with school or the police due to technology-assisted harmful sexual behaviour (TA-HSB). Owned […]
Commissioned by Plymouth City Council and the University of the West of England (UWE), Circles South West undertook a Feasibility Study with the aim of understanding if Plymouth has the […]
This marked a significant step forward on the part of the MoJ; HMPPS had not funded Circles in South West England for more than 5 years and it followed the […]
The conference kicked off with a warm welcome from the organisers, setting a positive tone for the day. We started with an introduction by Michael Sheath followed by a powerful […]
The new volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, bringing a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to making a positive impact. They will be involved in various projects, including Community […]
As a Circles Coordinator Barbara’s main role is coordinating Circles of Support and Accountability, working together with volunteers and people convicted of sexual offences to prevent further victims. She will […]
Regular Supervision Meetings: A Pillar of Support Supervision meetings are a cornerstone of the volunteer experience at Circles South West. These meetings provide a structured environment where volunteers can discuss […]
Our Vision… No More Victims of sexual abuse Driven by an aspiration to prevent sexual abuse, Circles South West is a professional, forward-thinking independent charity, led by capable and committed […]
In 2021, there were over 850 arrests across the UK for accessing child sexual abuse material every single month. Many of those arrested will have children of their own or […]
Recently the Centre for Expertise in Child Sexual Abuse reported that victims of child sexual abuse were waiting months to get support, highlighting the under-investment in victim and sexual abuse […]
Tim Johnson and Jackie Citron have provided training for 30 professionals in ‘Working with young people with harmful sexual behaviour’, arranged by Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council Community Safety […]
Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence. It provides an opportunity for anyone who wants to use […]
‘No church, no friends – how can I reintegrate?’ Life after prison can be tough, especially for people convicted of sexual offences. Here, the humanitarian Sir Terry Waite calls for […]
Professor McCartan discusses communities, integration and the value of pro-social engagement on desistance. He believes volunteers understand the concerns of the community but also understand the concerns of the core […]
The Core Member (CM) is an adult male who was convicted of serious sexual offences together with his stepfather, including 4 counts of rape and 3 counts of indecent assault, […]
Why we were involved: In response to discussions with police officers in Devon and Cornwall who are responsible for the management of those with convictions of a sexual nature (MOSOVOs), […]
In 2008, a remarkable venture commenced under the NSPCC. Jamie Stephenson, now Circles South West’s Circles Coordinator, acted as the NSPCC’s Coordinator for their new project working with people who […]
WHY DO WE NEED SHORE? Research shows that under-18s are responsible for one-third of sexual offences against young people in the UK. Shore’s mission is to address this pressing public […]
The Annual General Meeting took place, as always, in Taunton – the mid point of our region and we were delighted to welcome so many people, despite the terrible weather […]
Circles Providers are reviewed bi-annually to by Circles UK to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice for CoSA. Circles South West has recently undergone a compliance review and we […]
In Gloucestershire as at March 2022 (most recent figures available) there were 623 people on the Sex Offenders Register. Research confirms that in 2021 over 850 people were arrested every […]
Sam talked about how a large part of the focus was on understanding exactly what it is we, as Circles providers, actually ask of our volunteers. “There was a strong […]
The event, supported by Dorset Criminal Justice Board, was arranged as an open day at the court so members of the public could find out more about how local justice […]
Circles South West are currently running a series of information sessions via Zoom, giving people curious about what we do and how they can help a chance to say hi […]
Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) are a community-based approach aimed at preventing sexual offences against children, young people and vulnerable adults. A ‘circle’ is formed of a person who […]
We know that many men who have sexually offended return to live with their families or establish a new relationship where children are living. Partners of these men play a […]
The theme of the conference was Online Sexual Abuse and Circles Europe welcomes staff and volunteers from across several countries; including the UK, the Netherlands, Latvia and even as far […]
How many Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) did you provide? We coordinated 49 CoSA for 49 individual adults and young people, 26 of which were newly established in year […]
In discussion with Sara Radford, Circle Coordinator, you will hear first-hand about their motivation to volunteer with us, their learning and thoughts about how this volunteering role has impacted both […]
The award was presented on 22nd March 2023 in Exeter to four of our long serving volunteers who collected it on behalf of the entirety of the Devon volunteer team. […]
Community risk management is always a difficult balancing act, and we are grateful to the supervising agents and clinicians who make it happen! On one level it involves preventing someone […]
A five year study into Circles, under take by Research in Practice, found that ‘Circles volunteers were overwhelmingly positive about their experience with CSW’ with a fantastic 88% agreeing with […]
Breaking the Cycle is a group-work programme designed to inform, empower and offer support for the non-offending partner or ‘significant other’ of a man who has been accused or convicted […]
Podcasts have surged in popularity in recent years with everyone from newscasters, entertainers and bloggers becoming involved. Subjects range from movies to politics to true crime – it is an […]
Restorative Justice creates opportunities for people who have been harmed, or otherwise impacted by the actions of others, to communicate, directly or indirectly, with those who are responsible for that […]
Maren Riis and Lisa Gartner, probation officers from Norway, flew in from Oslo to attend the Circles South West training weekend and meet our new volunteers. They followed this up […]
We are delighted to introduce you to our two newest staff members who take up incredibly important positions in the team: Sam Wolf joins us as our Young People’s Coordinator […]
Circles South West benefited from their ‘Improving Lives’ grant programme, with particular focus on their ‘Positive Choices’ priority area. The ‘Positive Choices’ area looks at “Helping people, whose actions or […]
Circles ReBoot is a Circle of Support and Accountability devised by the Circles UK Team in 2021 specifically for Individuals who access Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM). We all […]
ODE TO A CIRCLE Every Thursday, I just can’t wait, to get to my circle, I won’t be late. Now what’s that topic, I was given last week, Ah yes, […]
Four countries were involved in the meeting, which took place on 18th July 2022: Latvia, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK, with both coordinators and volunteers attending. The meeting was […]
This year we have been fortunate to access support from Lloyds Bank Foundation ‘Enhance Programme’ to further our equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) learning and planning for the future. We […]
It was during our recent involvement with Plymouth’s Together for Childhood (read the story here) that Devon and Cornwall’s Shekinah project Make Amends approached us to support their staff around […]
With now almost 200 volunteers with us, it’s important to recognise each and every one of them – our volunteers give up their free time, deal with difficult situations, have […]
When an online sexual offence relating to children has been committed or suspected of having been committed, where there are children living in the household, a referral is made to […]
Due to our increasing reach across the south west and our diversifying projects we find ourselves once again recruiting. This has become an often enough occurrence that we have decided […]
Our Vision… No More Victims of sexual abuse Driven by an aspiration to prevent sexual abuse, Circles South West is a professional, forward-thinking independent charity, led by capable and committed […]
Working with people who have committed acts of sexual harm is a controversial issue. It understandably triggers strong reactions in most people, and particularly for victims and survivors of sexual […]
Circles South West is now live on Facebook! The page will keep you up to date on all the important news from Circles and feature interesting and relevant links to […]
Ernesettle in Plymouth is piloting a ground breaking new approach to prevent child sexual abuse. ‘Together for Childhood’ brings together the local community and partner agencies to prevent harmful sexual […]
In their 2021 threat assessment, the National Crime Agency estimated between 550,000 and 850,000 people in the UK pose a sexual risk to children, both online and offline, with evidence […]
Improving society’s attitudes and involving communities in rehabilitation programmes is key to preventing repeat sexual offences, say UWE Bristol researchers. Professor of Criminology Kieran McCartan worked with statutory and […]
In May 2021, a South West School contacted Circles South West requesting delivery of a series of educational workshops in relation to sex and the law for all boys in […]
Due to the escalation in Covid cases across the UK in January, most of the new Young People’s (YP) circles planned for the start of the year had to be […]
In January 2019 Circles South West received funding to establish the first Prison/Through the Gate Circles of Support and Accountability, to lead the development and delivery of a new pilot […]
I am hoping that it will not have escaped your notice that Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) has been highlighted in the latest report from Her Majesty’s Inspector of […]
Being a Circles coordinator is a multi-layered role that requires a specialist approach and a lot of experience in criminal justice. It is a careful balancing act between choosing the […]
Have you worked with young people with harmful sexual behaviour? Are you social work, youth justice, probation or similarly qualified? Do you want to work for an innovative, award winning […]
We are often asked about the connection between Circles of Support and Accountability and Restorative Justice. Circles do not practice a specifically restorative model. However, the reason that this is […]
The core member had grown up in challenging circumstances – from a very young age, he had struggled with a disability, with emotional and learning difficulties. Cut off from any […]
Circles South West is an award winning charity that prevents sexual abuse by reducing the risk of sexual re-offending. Circles enable volunteers to positively impact on the safe integration of […]
Over 50 delegates attended either the ‘Working with People Who Have Sexually Harmed’ training or ‘Living & Working In a Pornified World’ training. The courses were delivered by our experienced […]
Circles South West’ popular and successful summer training courses are coming to a close, with only one event left to run. ‘Working With People Who Have Sexually Harmed: A Theoretical […]
Our New Trustees: Our three new trustees bring a range of different experience and will be fantastic additions to our Board. Leonie Cole: Leonie is a lifelong resident of the […]
The Compliance Review included submission of a substantial evidence file, 3 x 1 day site visits (separate sites) and interviews with 22 individuals including service users, staff, volunteers, trustees, and […]
The RiP research highlights the statistically significant impact of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) in reducing dynamic risk factors associated with sexual recidivism over the life of a CoSA, […]
Ernesettle in Plymouth is piloting a ground breaking new approach to prevent child sexual abuse. ‘Together for Childhood’ brings together the local community and partner agencies to prevent harmful sexual […]
Amazon have announced that their charity giving programme, Amazon Smile, is finally available when you make purchases through their app. Previously you could only take advantage of the scheme if […]
Today marks the beginning of the annual national Volunteers’ Week, celebrated across the country to highlight the wonderful and selfless work volunteers do and what they contribute to society. Circles […]
These 1 day training courses are being held face to face across the region to be as accessible to as many delegates as possible – with two interesting and highly […]
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) states, “what was already a recognised phenomenon has now cemented into a grave and widespread threat to our children”. The IWF processed a record number […]
As 2021 gets underway properly we are so pleased to be in a position to add new staff members to our team. We are recruiting the following: Circles Coordinator, Dorset. […]
Last month Peter Yates and I joined the CSA Centre team to host a virtual roundtable for policy makers and professionals, reflecting on our latest publication: Sibling Sexual Abuse: a […]
This is a testing time for Circles, when many of the things we and our core members want to do are not possible. My current Young Adult Circle had its […]
George Streatfeild, the High Sheriff of Dorset said: At my High Sheriff Declaration on 27th March 2020, I summarised my ambition for the year as being to “seek out and […]
Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that Circles South West achieves its core purpose. They strategically oversee the management and administration of the charity, as well as […]
A recent paper from the Lloyds Bank Foundation The Value of Small in a Big Crisis: the distinctive contribution, value and experiences of smaller charities in England and Wales during […]
Tony was one of the first volunteers to be recruited into Circles in Devon back in 2008 when it was still a pilot project delivered by the NSPCC. However, prior […]
Jamie Stephenson, our Devon & Cornwall coordinator, sat down with Kate to discuss the projects taking place in Cornwall and how Circles South West came into being in the county. […]
Findings from the bulletin uses data from the 10 to 15-year-old’s Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). Main points Almost 9 in 10 children (89%) aged 10 to 15 […]
Last week [22nd January 2021] the Home Office released its new strategy to protect children from sexual abuse. The new strategy is a comprehensive look at the policies and practices […]
Let me start by asking you a question. Just bring your gut reaction to mind. It’s about the behaviour of people who have committed serious sexual offences, and ended up […]
Breaking the Cycle is a group-work programme designed to inform, empower and offer support for the non-offending partner or ‘significant other’ of a man who has been accused or convicted […]
Commissioning services for victims of crime in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is a big part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s job and often this is the […]
Freedom of Information responses from 38 police forces in England and Wales show that 1,220 offences of sexual communication with a child were recorded in the first 3 months of […]
