Raising Your Game
This four year project funded by the Big Lottery is based in six sites across the UK. Each site will work with young people who are seen as not engaging with school / have a learning disability and are at risk of offending. The six sites are offering interventions to prevent young people from having contact with the criminal justice system. FPLD and De Montfort University are evaluating the impact of the project on services, the community and on public attitudes.
Research shows that people with learning disabilities make up between seven and 25% of the prison population in the UK. Work done by the Prison Reform Trust and by FPLD shows that prisoners with learning disabilities are not identified on entry to prison and as a result when in prison do not receive extra support. They cannot participate in many of the rehabilitative programmes in prison and can be discriminated against because of their cognitive disability. The Raising Your Game initiative aims to work with young people who need extra help with literacy, communication, self esteem building and developing positive social relationships with the aim of preventing crimes being committed. The progress of young people is being monitored by The Prison Reform Trust and FPLD is measuring the impact on services, staff attitudes and the views of community members.
More Information
Please email Molly Mattingly: mmattingly@learningdisabilities.org.uk
Molly has supported young people and adults with learning disabilities for over 30 years. She is experienced in consultancy, developing partnership contracts and tenders, training, research and service transitions. Furthermore, Molly holds a MEd.
Barbara has influenced the improvement of learning disability services across the UK and internationally. She serves on national advisory committees, founded the Learning Disability Coalition and holds a MSc in Health and Social Policy.