info@circlessw.org.uk

Delivering circles of support and accountability to protect communities from sexual harm and sexual reoffending

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Young People’s Services

Our Young People’s Service accepts referrals for young people aged between 10 and 20 who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour.

What is a Circle’s purpose?

A Circle is made up of a young person and a group of 3-4 specially trained community volunteers. The purpose of the Circle is to provide a supportive social network that enables purposeful integration into the community while managing the risk of further harmful sexual behaviour. The Circle will hold the young person to account, support positive progress and challenge the individual about inappropriate attitudes, beliefs, thoughts and feelings.

Who is it for?

The young person doesn’t need to have been involved with the Criminal Justice System but should have had (or be engaging with) an intervention to address their harmful sexual behaviour. Though helpful, it is not essential for a young person to have taken full responsibility for their harmful sexual behaviour. However, the young person needs to accept at least partial responsibility for their HSB.

The Young People’s Service is divided into two parts:

Youth Service: young people aged 10 to 17

The Circle provides a supportive social network to reduce isolation and build self-confidence whilst helping with things like schoolwork, finding new hobbies and making age appropriate friendships and relationships. We welcome referrals from local harmful sexual behaviour services, social care and youth offending services.

Young Adults Service: young people aged 18 to 20

Circle volunteers encourage young people to talk about their lives and any worries they may have whilst providing practical support with issues like jobs, housing and age appropriate relationships. The Circle will help the young person to develop their self-confidence and social skills. We welcome referrals from social care, residential placements for young people with HSB, probation and police.

How does it work?

The Circle meets for an hour or so every week. Each Circle is tailored to the individual needs and risks of the young person. Initial meetings take place in a safe public venue such as a church or council building. Future meetings take place at cafés, sports venues and at other activities such as bowling or mini golf. Formal reviews involving professionals take place on a quarterly basis and Circles run for a period of 12 months.

Is it mandatory?

Circles are entirely voluntary and cannot be a condition of a community sentence or licence. The young person must want to stop engaging in harmful sexual behaviour and be willing for details of their harmful sexual behaviour to be shared with their Circle. They must be willing to meet every week with their Circle for a whole year.

Other work with Young People

See the full range of services for Young People & Families

Services for Young People & Families

A short programme delivered on a one to-one basis for young people aged 13-21. This is a psycho-educational programme for young people in trouble with school or the police due to their technology-assisted harmful sexual behaviour (TA-HSB). IYP is owned and Licensed by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Circles South West is an approved provider of this service in South West England. The programme totals 10 hours of intervention (up to 8 sessions) delivered by a professional facilitator.

Further information here Inform Young People Programme | The Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

A short programme delivered on a one-to-one basis to children and young people aged 10- 20. This psycho-educational programme was designed by Circles South West in response to an identified gap in services for children and young people with problematic sexual behaviour and low-level harmful sexual behaviour, but who are unsuitable for Inform Young People (TA-HSB). The programme totals 10 hours of intervention (up to 8 sessions) delivered by professional facilitator.

Bail Support Service (BSS)

A bespoke support package delivered on a one-to-one basis to children and young people aged 10-17 on bail for a sexual offence/s. Some young people may meet the criteria for CLIP or IYP. It is more likely however, that a non-offence focused Bail Support package would better meet individual needs. The purpose of the Bail Support Service is a ‘holding place’ supporting positive change, with a focus on wellbeing, attitudes and values, positive relationships etc, and signposting to other agencies for specific support e.g. substance use. Bail Support begins with an assessment of need, based on the Good Lives Model, which informs a bespoke package for the individual. The expectation is 10 hours of intervention (up to 8 sessions) delivered by a professional facilitator.

Workshops for young people in schools, youth groups and so on. Circles South West has designed and delivered educational workshops primarily in relation to ‘Consent and the Law’. We can also offer co-working in schools / youth groups and ‘Train the Trainer’ packages for teachers or youth work staff to cascade.

Please read our report of our work in schools in 2021:

School Workshops ‘Sex & The Law’ Report

Please direct any enquiries about these programmes to info@circlessw.org.uk.

We are also able to offer Harmful Sexual Behaviour training for professionals. To discuss your specific requirements please contact us.

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