Henry Smith MP has praised Crawley A Band of Brothers in the House of Commons after attending their West Green homecoming ceremony last week.
Henry said;
“It was a pleasure to attend Crawley A Band of Brothers’ ceremony last week, and I was delighted for the opportunity to tell the Justice Secretary about their inspirational work in the Commons.
“Local men mentoring young offenders to help turn their lives around is inspiring and making a real positive difference to our town.”
The Crawley branch of A Band of Brothers was started in 2013. Men from the town and surrounding villages answered the call to become mentors to younger men who needed their support.
In February 2014, after months of training from the team that had set up the original community in Brighton, the first ever Crawley mentoring programme got underway.
The organisation was born out of concern at the continuing escalation of self-destructive and anti-social behaviour among young men from every section of society, together with the realisation that any meaningful and sustainable solution requires shared local responsibility.
Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, asked the Secretary of State for Justice;
“Last week, I was privileged to attend a ceremony at the Crawley Band of Brothers, where men mentor former young offenders to help them turn their lives around. What further steps can the Department take to encourage such voluntary groups to help the rehabilitation of offenders?”
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Andrew Selous MP, responded;
“I share my hon. Friend’s enthusiasm for what voluntary groups such as a Band of Brothers can do, alongside the work of our public sector probation professionals, to reduce reoffending further, which is what our reforms are all about.
“No doubt he will be pleased to know that 19 of the 21 areas have a voluntary group such as the one he mentioned in their tier 1 providers, and a Band of Brothers is part of MTCnovo’s supply chain, delivering rehabilitation services in London.”
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