INFORMATION FOR THE PROBATION SERVICE

The Gateway Foundation has been working with ex-offenders since it was established in 2007. The founder and voluntary staff, however, have many years experience and qualification within this area.

Upon release from prison, exc-offenders may be at their most vulnerable, re-joining a peer group or finding difficulty in gaining emnployment, often it may seem the easier option simply to re-offend. It is the purpose of the foundation to reach these individuals within prison and upon release, and assist them with finding meaningful employment - a way out of their previous life. To this end, we offer support for education and training, both academic and vocational, assistance in securing employment and work experience, and constant mentoring to ensure that goals are achieved.

The Gateway Foundation also works with recovering alcoholics and drug addicts (whether ex-offenders or not), assisting with the maintenance of the recovery process and providing purpose and goals.

Many prisoners will already be aware of the Gateway Foundation, due to the mass distribution of 70,000 copies of the founder, Richard Taylor's, book 'To Catch a Thief' - the autobiographical work of an ex-offender and drug addict who has completely transformed his life. Richard is a regular visitor to prisons and relates with humour, empathy and understanding to the groups that he meets.

The Gateway Foundation realises that without some process of application, it may be deluged by individual applications which would be difficult to identify as genuine requests for support.

This is why the foundation accepts applications only with a letter of support from a probation officer or other welfare professionals.