Probation and Linkage in Limerick Scheme Ltd

PALLS Annual Report
2013

Building a Better Future Together

Mission StatementValues

Executive Summary

Name of organisationPALLS

Address Unit 2 Docklands Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick

Telephone061 608180

Website (under construction)

Charity Number CHY18936

Date EstablishedIncorporated 4th September 2008

Number of paid employees 4

Number of volunteers2-volunteer student placements a year

2013 Board of Management

ChairpersonKarl Shanahan

TreasurerRay O Halloran

DirectorTerence Boyle

DirectorColin Cummins

DirectorMargaret Griffin

2013 Staff Team

Coordinator Jenny Hannon

Project WorkerGerard Roche

Project WorkerMartin Kiely

AdministratorRachel Reilly

Volunteer/studentKate Stoica and Richard Hayer

What we do

The PALLS project in Limerick has been in operation, working with adult clients of the Probation Service since 2009. The project acknowledges that each individual has personalised needs and strengths to work from. Building from this,along with the known factors that support desistance; PALLS provides different levels of support and training including but not limited to; the high intensity support in the men’s Core Programme, Part time Light programme (individualised), Prison Support and Recruitment, Continuation and Through Care support, and other individual support related to a person’s offending.

From 2009-2012 PALLS worked exclusively with adult men, which continue as the main target group and beneficiaries of PALLS. However in 2012/2013 the project expanded to work with women involved in substance misuse. PALLS chairs and hosts an interagency initiative to respond to the high level of women on probation in Limerick city (accounting for over 20% of the caseload; compared to the national average of 11%) and the significant numbers of women experiencing difficulty with substance misuse in the region. The pilot programme delivered in 2012/2013 which continues presently is the Helping Women Recover.

PALLS Core Programme

The Core Programme runs from September to July and is open to male clients of the Probation Service who are 23 years and over. Once on the program participants are referred to as trainees. Trainees and staff work together to develop Rules of Engagement to ensure that everyone feels safe in the centre-this is achieved through creating a Group Contract, offering support or mediation between trainees with violent histories, and a commitment from trainees to leave current conflicts outside of the project. Over the years trainees from different parts of Limerick City and elsewhere have worked side by side in PALLS at a time when Limerick was much divided and most trainees did not have free movement around their city.

Trainees on the Core Programme aim to:

• To explore your relationship with drugs and alcohol and its impact on you and your offending behaviour
• To design an Individual Action Plan and undertake regular reviews
• To develop in the areas of punctuality, attendance, and participation
• To identify and address the factors linked to offending
• To grow in confidence+ self belief and discipline +self control
• To become familiar with group work
• To undertake structured training and support in the areas of: personal development and self care, adult education and vocational skills
• To attend PALLS 20 hrs a week drug free

While on the Core Programme trainees may engage in: Health and Safety Induction, Accredited FETAC Workshops, Drug and Alcohol support, Welding, Engineering, Woodturning, Yoga, Art Therapy, Driver Theory Test, Team Building, Philosophy, Safe Pass, Forklift etc

PALLS, Unit 2 Docklands Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick. Ph: 061 608180Page 1

Probation and Linkage in Limerick Scheme Ltd

Programmes Provided

PALLS, Unit 2 Docklands Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick. Ph: 061 608180Page 1

Probation and Linkage in Limerick Scheme Ltd

Details of Programmes Provided

Internal and External Referrals for 2013

Referrals include trainees who continued with PALLS from 2012 (Internal Referrals) along with new referrals submitted between January and December 2013

12 No Engagement includes:

No Shows for training or interviews-8
Those who declined support due to safety reasons (2) or personal preference-(1)
Not contactable -1

Summarised Statistics for 2013

Summarised Statistics for 2013
80 people supported by PALLS
Men
58 people /

Intensive Support
Core Programme-21

Continuation Programme-16

Part Time Light-9

Specialised Offender Integration-2

Prison Support + Recruitment-5

Once off training or programme
Vocational Training Course-15
Soccer-4

Women
22 people /

Low Threshold Women’s Group

Drop in, gender specific and trauma aware
Designed and delivered in partnership with ALDP

Helping Women Recover

17 week modular programme designed by Dr. Stephanie Conington,2 hrs a week
Gender specific and trauma aware
Holistic Activity programme-2 hrs a week

Highlights of 2013

Milford Project
For over 200 years a magnificent oak tree grew and flourished in what became the grounds of Milford Care Centre in Limerick. Every year the tree was covered in lights in memory of those who died in Milford. In 2011, at the end of a long life, the lower body of the tree died and 10 tonnes of wood from the oak tree was donated PALLS to work on a restorative justice project. PALLS trainees progress from their FETAC course and are tutored in more advanced wood turning and rustic furniture making, so that projects canbe made from the wood and used to fundraise for Milford Care Centre. In 2013 the project developed memory bowls for speakers of the International Palliative Care Conference, organised by Milford. Additionally throughout the year trainees created numerous crafts and organised the pilot PALLS Christmas Fair in December 2013. All aspects of the fair were coordinated by staff and trainees who had progressed from the Core Programme. The event was a great success and over €2000 was fundraised for Milford Care Centre.

PALLS, Unit 2 Docklands Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick. Ph: 061 608180Page 1