Overcoming Life's Challenges

Domestic Homicide Project 

Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2021-2022, is the second annual report from the national Domestic Homicide Project.

The report focuses on how policing can improve its response to domestic abuse and domestic homicide, and presents ground breaking new work on victim-suicide after domestic abuse.
It presents 40 findings from new analysis of both victims and perpetrators alongside 25 recommendations which aim to help the criminal justice sector improve prevention and investigation of domestic homicides and work more closely with bereaved families. Read more here.

Police, Crime & Community Safety Plan for Norfolk 2022 – 2024

Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Giles Orpen-Smellie's Police, Crime & Community Safety Plan sets out six priorities - built on six pillars - which detail what he will expect Norfolk Constabulary to deliver over the next two years.

One of the six key priorities identified was support for victims; see the report here.

The Get Out Project

The “Get Out Project” is a partnership between two organisations. Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN), a Christian charity providing through the gate support to prison leavers and Ascend Adventure.

This project is for men who have been released from prison, and those who have had some involvement with the Criminal Justice System. 

It is a 5-week outdoor activity program that has been specifically designed to support men in Norfolk who face persistent social and economic challenges and difficult circumstances that cause barriers to attaining good health and wellbeing after being released from prison.

There are three separate courses in April / May; May / June; June / July, further details can be found here.

An exciting new service has been launched in Thetford for ex-offenders

The service involves working with nature and helps ex-offenders to gain work experience and gives them the opportunity to acquire new skills whilst learning the benefits of working with nature.

Horticulture has long been associated with personal growth and wellbeing and has huge benefits both physically and mentally.  The Horticulture Industry Scheme are based in Thetford and work with former offenders, those at risk of offending, and people who have experienced homelessness.  

The scheme provides grounds and garden maintenance services in the Thetford area and is dedicated to giving local ex-offenders and people considered to be at risk of offending valuable training and employment opportunities. The service provides grounds maintenance services to local businesses and private homes as well as working on a local Historic England site. Further information can be found here.

Call Blocking report

The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team have produced a report on call blocking. The project provided over 1,500 trueCall call blocking devices to potentially vulnerable consumers as part of the project, including consumers with dementia and those deemed to be most at risk of receiving scams and nuisance calls. 

The report includes a very interesting section on the cost benefit of using call blockers. Read more here.

Research identifies a surge in rural rough sleeping

Recent research released by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) identified a surge in rural rough sleeping since the pandemic has been worsened by the cost-of-living crisis after a year-long study.

It reveals that the countryside is battling a ‘hidden homelessness’ crisis driven by soaring housing costs and a gaping shortfall in local authority funding, a new report shows.

Following the launch of Groundswell’s new Resources Hub for people experiencing homelessness and those supporting them last month, they’re pleased to announce that 15 brand new resources have been added to the hub, including resources surrounding anxiety, diabetes, self-advocacy and a host of other crucial topics. They are all able to be viewed online, downloaded, and available in a print version.