PCC funding saves Dorset Circles of Support & Accountability
New funding from Dorset's Police & Crime Commissioner will help extend our vital service in the county.
It has been a turbulent year for our Dorset Project. When Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) match-funding for the half-time coordinator seconded by the National Probation Service (NPS) ceased in Sept 2017, we were very grateful that NPS undertook to honour the half-time Coordinator secondment arrangement until March 2018. Behind the scenes there was a lot of work going into the development of a national commissioning model for Circles. However, this came to an abrupt halt in March 2018 when NPS announced that funding would be withdrawn from all Circles Projects nationally from September 2018 and that there would be no national commissioning of Circles.
At our AGM in September 2018, Martyn Underhill, Dorset PCC, pledged to ensure the continuation of our Dorset Circles Project. Formal confirmation of funding for 3 new community Circles was received in January, a huge relief for all those involved. In addition, we have been involved in exciting recent discussions between NPS, PCC, and HMP The Verne about the potential for co-commissioning a Prison-Through The Gate Circles Project based at HMP The Verne. Watch this space for updates….
Huge thanks to our Dorset volunteers who have patiently awaited good news for the continuation of their important work in Dorset.
