Nacro Chief Executive comments about Raab's plans to get prison leavers back to work

IN is statement to our newsroom Nacro Chief Executive, Campbell Robb, commented on Dominic Raab's plans to get prison leavers back to work. Nacro has over 50 years experience working to rehabilitate offenders and prison leavers and said:- "Dominic Raab announced his plan to solve the job crisis and cut reoffending rates in one fell swoop. After 50 years working to help prison leavers have the best chance at a second chance in life, Nacro welcomes this announcement. Reoffending costs the UK economy around ₤18 billion a year, with only one in seven prison leavers finding work within the 1st 6 months of release, so it's positive to see the Justice Secretary encouraging firms to invest in hiring those with criminal records and those due for release. Having an income, a structure to life is key to helping people with their rehabilitation, Mr Raab's intention to ensure that everyone leaving prison has ID and a bank account, alongside work skills or a job upon release is very welcome, but there is one key omission. Around 1000 people are released from prison directly into homelessness every month. Without a safe and secure home, despite recent welcome measures to support prison leavers, we are simply setting people up to fail. Rehabilitation is a delicate web, each individual strand is there to support prison leavers, we know everyone leaving prison needs somewhere to live, work, ID, a bank account, access to health services, and positive community links and relationships to change their lives. When one strand is missing, we risk people falling through. Mr Raab focus on rehabilitation is a good start, the spending review will be the next opportunity for the Justice Secretary to turn these plans into a reality and expand his vision to include housing for everyone leaving prison."

What are your thoughts on this? Please email our newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Letter to the Editor from Barnardo's

"THE Charity. Barnardo's is having to support children as young as 9, who are being criminally exploited, and we are deeply concerned that without Government action the problem will spiral even further out of control. During the Pandemic we have seen organised gangs grooming young people and encouraging them to carry drugs and weapons. These children are victims and need the right support to help them recover, rather than being criminalised. Yet evidence from our frontline workers shows children and families across England can experience months of exploitation, fear and violence before help arrives. We know that children who have already had a tough start in life are particularly vulnerable, including those in foster care and residential care, and children who have been excluded from School. That is why we are calling on the Government to change the law so that children who are being exploited by gangs are identified and supported early. It is also vital that this month's Spending Review includes long term, sustainable funding for local areas to invest in youth services, counselling and other support for young people at risk. We believe there is a lack of understanding and consistency among professionals including the police, social care and health workers about how to identify and support these young people. This is leading to vulnerable young people being criminalised rather than safeguarded. That is why Barnardo's is calling on the Government to make changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill so that every local area develops a strategy to tackle child criminal exploitation and serious youth violence. We also want the Government to increase specific funding for youth services. Research carried out by ourselves and Redthread on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Knife Crime and Violence Reduction before the Pandemic showed how areas experiencing the largest reduction in spending on young people have seen bigger increases in knife crime. Two years on we believe the problem is even worse." Michelle Lee-Izu, Interim Co-Chief Executive, Barnardo's.

Care England say:- "Listen to Us!"

CARE England, who are the UK's the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has made its views known about making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector highlighting its concerns around the potential timeframe for the imposed policy.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "If vaccination for Covid19 and /or flu is legislated as a condition of deployment for the wider social care sector, due consideration must be lent to the timeframe for its imposition and it must be accompanied by commensurate resources and funding. Adult social care providers are in the midst of a perfect storm. Providers are currently operating against a backdrop of a multitude of workforce pressures and need Government assistance as outlined in our ongoing correspondence with the Secretary of State."

Responding to the DHSC Consultation on making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector Care England appealed for lessons to be learned from the legislative process for the Covid19 Vaccine as a condition of deployment across the registered care home sector. It also warned that mandating the Covid19 and/or flu vaccination, in addition to enormous workforce pressures, could only intensify the difficulties currently experienced by providers and may well be the straw that breaks the camel's back for many providers.

Martin Green continues:- "We are yet to see the Government's Impact Assessment for vaccination as a condition of deployment for the care home sector. We urge the Government to listen to the sector in order that any unintended consequences, namely the potential disruption to the delivery of health and care services, can be avoided."

Self Assessment deadline countdown begins

THE HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are reminding Self Assessment customers have less than a week to submit paper Tax Returns and just 100 days to go for Online Tax Returns. The Self Assessment Tax Return deadlines for 2020/21 Tax year are 31 October 2021 for paper returns and 31 January 2022 if customers complete their Tax Return online. More than 10.7 million customers completed a Tax Return by 31 January 2021, of those 96% submitted it online. Completing it online is the quickest method and with around 100 days to go, customers have plenty of time to get it done. Even if customers submit their completed Tax Return now, they do not have to pay any Tax owed until 31 January 2022. Anyone who is worried about how to pay their bill can access support on GOV.UK. Various payment options include:-

► Paying through a customers' Tax code (PAYE customers only)

► Payment on Account.

► Setting up an online monthly payment plan (self-serve Time to Pay)

► Pay by debit or corporate credit card.

► Pay at a bank or building society.

Visit GOV.UK for a full list of payment options and the eligibility criteria. Customers should contact HMRC if they have concerns about paying their bill.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said:- "There are 100 days left to complete your Tax Return, but you don't have to wait for the 31 January deadline. Why not do it now and get it out of the way? Visit GOV.UK and search 'self assessment' to find out more."

The 2020/21 Tax Return covers earnings and payments during the Pandemic. Customers will need to declare if they received any grants or payments from the Covid19 support schemes up to 5 April 2021 on their Self Assessment, as these are Taxable, including:-

► Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

► Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

► Other Covid19 grants and support payments such as:- self isolation payments, Local Authority Grants and those for the:- 'Eat Out to Help Out scheme'

► The ₤500, 1 off payment for working households receiving Tax credits should not be reported in Self Assessment.

HMRC urges everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information. HMRC sees high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department. If in doubt, HMRC advises not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact them straight away and to search GOV.UK for:- 'HMRC scams.'