Description
The project will develop a training program and the beneficiary will organize training seminars and lectures on the existing opportunities and resources for follow-up support of young people who have served a custodial sentence. The project will also enhance the competences of these young people on the possibilities, services and resources of the community that they may benefit from after release. Moreover, the project will improve the interaction between the prison staff and social specialists in order to provide young offenders with access to education opportunities, social support and employment. The implementation of the project will facilitate the expansion of opportunities for re-socialization, independent living and successful social inclusion of young individuals, including Roma, by creating and piloting a model of integrated psychosocial and legal services for follow-up support. The main target is the the prison staff, who work with the inmates in a direction towards their preparation for life out of prison, as well as young people aged 14 to 29 years, including Roma, imprisoned or recently released from the correctional facility in Boytchinovtsi.
Summary of project results
The project has addressed the needs of the recently released young prisoners. A special focus has been placed on young people from the Roma community. The target age has been between 14 and 29 years, and the support has been provided in the first 6 months after release, which has proved to be the period of highest vulnerability of the ex-prisoners. Increased related competence of prison staff, namely prison probation inspectors has been achieved by elaboration of a training programme and applying it, as well by conducting a sensitizing seminar on the topic. 30 participants have been involved in the training and 50 participants attended the sensitizing seminar. Recently released young prisoners have also gained new knowledge on the possibilities, services and resources of the community they may benefit from. In the target cities three teams have been set up composed by social workers and psychologists. The project resulted in creating and piloting a model of integrated service for follow-up support and escorting of young persons including legal counseling, social escorting and mediation, psychological counseling and activities with therapeutic nature. The piloting of the service took place in the cities of Shumen, Vidin and in the capital city Sofia. In total 110 young ex-prisoners have been supported.
Summary of bilateral results