The Minerva WrapAround service, in partnership with London’s Mayor and MOPAC (Mayor’s Office for Policing & Crime), provides enhanced support to women and girls, aged 15 and above, with multiple and complex needs who have committed crime and are at risk of re-offending.
The service is a “whole system” response to women in the Criminal Justice System and this service is offered across 24 London boroughs in North, East and West.
Operating through a diverse referral process, the service provides women in contact with the Criminal Justice System with wrap around support services including keyworker support, group-work, mentoring, and other specialist support.
The Services receives referrals from London CRC and the National Probation Service, statutory partners and voluntary organisations.
The Minerva WrapAround Partnership, led by Advance, includes:
Advance and its partners deliver;
One-to-one support across all pathways to offending by Advance Minerva keyworkers
Peer Mentors, with lived experience of the criminal justice system, providing one to one adhoc and regular support to women
3 Regional Women Centres (North/East and West London) as central hubs offering safe, women-only spaces for one to one support and group-work
15 borough-specific hubs, in collaboration with Local Authorities, where women can be supported in their communities
Tailored groups delivered in Women Centres by specialist partner organisations with established expertise of supporting women in the criminal justice system
Housing Co-ordinator offering in-depth knowledge of legislation and housing options in each borough
Support for Foreign Nationals (including trafficked women),and those with no recourse to public funds
Young Woman’s keyworker for 15-24 year olds addressing issues such as emotional management, healthy relationships and self-esteem.
Additional support for women working in prostitution and exploitative lifestyles
Groups and workshops with specialist partner organisations addressing the needs of women that are linked to offending, including financial management, employability, mental health and domestic abuse
Awareness-raising with the judiciary to strengthen public accountability and promote gender-informed community sentencing options by delivering awareness-raising workshops for Court staff and NPS.