![]() Revolving Doors logo | |
Abbreviation | RDA |
---|---|
Formation | 17 August 1993 |
Type | Charitable organisation |
Headquarters | Southbank Technopark 90 London Road London SE1 6LN |
Location | |
Region served | England and Wales |
Official language | English |
Chief Executive | Christina Marriott [1] |
Affiliations | Criminal Justice Alliance, Mental Health Alliance, Transition to Adulthood Alliance, Offender Health Collaborative |
Staff | 10 |
Website | revolving-doors |
Revolving Doors is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which works across England and Wales. [2] Through research, policy and campaigning work, the organisation aims to improve services for people with multiple needs who are in repeat contact with the criminal justice system. [2]
The vision of the organisation is that by 2025 there is an end to the revolving door of crisis and crime, when anyone facing multiple problems and poor mental health is supported to reach their potential, with fewer victims and safer communities as a result. [2]
To fulfil its vision, [3] Revolving Doors organises its work around three areas:
The revolving door group refers to the experiences of people who are caught in a cycle of crisis, crime and mental illness, whereby they are repeatedly in contact with the police and often detained in prison as well as being victims of crime themselves. This is a group that often has multiple problems for which they need the input of a wide range of agencies, including housing, drugs, mental health, and benefits. The mental health problems of the group are usually a core or exacerbating factor. Routinely, they fall through the gaps of existing mental health service provision, as their mental health problems are not considered sufficiently "severe" to warrant care from statutory services; but they are frequently excluded from mainstream services in the community, such as GPs and Housing Associations, on account of the perceived complexity of their needs and their often challenging behaviour. [8] Consequently, the lack of support contributes to a downward spiral that brings people into contact with the criminal justice system. It is estimated that the number of individuals within the revolving door group is approximately 60,000 at any one time. [9] [10]
In 1992 a report undertaken by NACRO and an ITV Telethon identified a group of people who were caught in a downward cycle of homelessness and found themselves in repeat contact with both the mental health and criminal justice system. This group was identified as the 'revolving doors' group, which subsequent research has estimated to include 60,000 people at any one time. [11] [12]
Following the publication of the report in 1993, the Revolving Doors Agency was established by some of the parties involved in the initial publication who sought to demonstrate new ways of working in these three areas of criminal justice, mental health and homelessness. [13] The focus of the organisation was on the people who kept falling between the mainstream services in the community.
Initially, the organisation conducted research in prisons and police stations to identify the needs of the revolving doors group and establish the issues they faced.
In the late 1990s the organisation established a series of experimental services, called Link Worker Schemes, to test effective interventions for their target group. The schemes offered individuals practical and emotional support, assisting them to access appropriate services and to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. An independent evaluation conducted by the Home Office found that the scheme cut reoffending by 22 per cent. [14]
Following a strategic review in 2006, the organisation adjusted its focus to research, policy and campaigning work in relation to people who become stuck in a cycle of mental health problems and crime. [15] The Link Worker Schemes were passed over to other voluntary sector providers. [16]
The organisation is funded by charitable donations from individuals, grants from statutory bodies and applications to charitable foundations. [16] Recent funders include the Big Lottery Fund, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Henry Smith Charity, [17] the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust and Trusts for London. The organisation has previously received funding from Comic Relief. [18]
Revolving Doors has also received pro-bono support from Clifford Chance who, in partnership with the University of Cambridge Pro Bono Society, assisted the organisation with additional research. [19]
Revolving Doors is governed by a Board of Trustees who oversee the activities of the organisation, which itself is run by a team of nine members of staff who are supported by associates across the country. The organisation is a registered private company limited by guarantee, with no share capital, which means it is run for non-profit purposes. [2] It is a recognised as a charity by the Charities Commission. [20]
The organisation affiliates itself to the Criminal Justice Alliance, a coalition of 58 organisations involved in policy and practice across the criminal justice system, [21] the Mental Health Alliance, a coalition of 75 organisations which aims to secure a better mental health legislation, [22] and the Transition to Adulthood Alliance, which works to improve the opportunities and life chances of young people in their transition to adulthood, who are at risk of committing crime and falling into the criminal justice system. [23]
The current patrons of Revolving Doors are Lord David Ramsbotham GCB CBE (Former Chief Inspector of Prisons), the Rt Hon. Hilary Armstrong (Former Member of Parliament for North West Durham and Cabinet Minister for Social Exclusion and Duchy of Lancaster), Ian Bynoe (Former Acting Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission), Rose Fitzpatrick (Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police), Professor John Gunn (Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham), Dru Sharpling CBE (London Director of the Crown Prosecution Service), His Honour Judge Fabyan Evans, Bharat Mehta OBE (Chief Executive of Trusts for London), Joe Simpson (Consultant) and Peter Wrench, Consultant and Writer, former Prison Service and Home Office Director. [24]
Revolving Doors has published a number of works with a focus on the revolving doors group who have mental health problems within the criminal justice system, including a report on the financial impact of supporting women with multiple needs in the criminal justice system. [25] This report established that an investment of £18 million per year England-wide in interventions could reduce the cost to the state by £384m over three years and almost £1 billion over five years. [26]
In 2012, Revolving Doors Published Integrated Offender Management - Effective alternatives to short sentences. It also published Ending the Revolving Door – guidance for Police and Crime Commissioners.
Revolving Doors is widely regarded as one of the UK's leading charities concerned with mental health and the criminal justice system. [27] [28] [29] [30]
In 2002 the organisation received two UK Charity Awards, which are given for outstanding achievements within the UK not-for-profit sector, in the category of Research, Advice and Support, [31] as well as being the Overall Winner. [32]
In 2006 the Revolving Doors Agency received an award from the Care Services Improvement Partnership, part of the Care Services Directorate at the Department of Health, [33] for their Link Worker Scheme in the London Borough of Islington. [34] The same year, the organisation was also highly commended by the Centre for Social Justice. [35]
In 2010, Neighbourhood Link, a scheme in the Islington developed in partnership by St. Mungo's and the Revolving Doors Agency, was highlighted as evidence of good-practice by the Cabinet Office. The scheme helps people with multiple and complex needs who are either involved in crime or at risk of becoming involved in crime and becoming homeless. As a result of the project, contact with the police amongst the users has fallen from 31 per cent to 9 per cent. [36]
Victim Support is an independent charity in England and Wales that provides specialist practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime.
Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales. Founded in 1946 as the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), it celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016.
Mental health courts link offenders who would ordinarily be prison-bound to long-term community-based treatment. They rely on mental health assessments, individualized treatment plans, and ongoing judicial monitoring to address both the mental health needs of offenders and public safety concerns of communities. Like other problem-solving courts such as drug courts, domestic violence courts, and community courts, mental health courts seek to address the underlying problems that contribute to criminal behavior.
Rethink Mental Illness is a mental health charity in England. The organisation was founded in 1972 by John Pringle whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The operating name of 'Rethink' was adopted in 2002, and expanded to 'Rethink' Mental Illness' in 2011, but the charity remains registered as the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, although it no longer focuses only on schizophrenia.
SANE is a UK mental health charity working to improve quality of life for people affected by mental illness.
The Howard League for Penal Reform is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest penal reform organisation in the world, named after John Howard. It was founded as the Howard Association in 1866 and changed its name in 1921, following a merger with the Penal Reform League. The charity focuses on penal reform in England and Wales.
We Are With You is a British charity founded in 1967 that supports people to make positive behavioural changes, most notably with alcohol and drug misuse, and mental health. The charity works extensively throughout England and Scotland, with an administrative base in Farringdon, central London. Previously named Addaction, it changed its name to We Are With You in February 2020.
Change, Grow, Live (CGL) is a voluntary sector organisation specialising in substance misuse and criminal justice intervention projects in England and Wales. All of its funding is statutory-based. As of 2012 the organisation employed over 1,800 workers and was supported by over 250 volunteers. CGL was formerly named Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI), but changed its name in 2016.
Praxis Care is the largest care providing charity based in Northern Ireland. It has its headquarters in Belfast. Four charities initially made up the former Praxis Care Group: Praxis Mental Health, for those experiencing mental ill health such as clinical depression or schizophrenia; Respond, for older people including those suffering from dementia; Challenge, which deals with service users with learning disabilities; and the Northern Ireland Agoraphobia and Anxiety Society.
Turning Point is a health and social care organisation that works across mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, primary care, the criminal justice system and employment. In 2017, Turning Point won the contract to deliver sexual health services across 3 London boroughs and Autism Plus joined the Turning Point group. Many of Turning Point services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
Richmond Fellowship is a charity and voluntary sector provider of mental health services in England. Established in 1959, Richmond Fellowship serves over 9000 people in England every year.
Together for Mental Wellbeing is a UK charity working in mental health. Until 2005 it was known as the Mental After Care Association (Maca).
The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability services to the people of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex. The Trust also provide some community services in Hampshire for children and young people with mental health problem. They work in partnership with those who use their services, with their staff, with NHS and social care agencies and with the voluntary sector.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, is an NHS foundation trust based in London, England, which specialises in mental health. It comprises three psychiatric hospitals, the Ladywell Unit based at University Hospital Lewisham, and serves the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Croydon and Southwark. The Trust also provides drug and alcohol services and 50 high-quality, national specialist services for people with complex needs.
The Centre for Mental Health is an independent UK mental health charity. It aims to inspire hope, opportunity and a fair chance in life for people of all ages with or at risk of mental ill health. The Centre acts as a bridge between the worlds of research, policy and service provision and believes strongly in the importance of high-quality evidence and analysis. It encourages innovation and advocates for change in policy and practice through focused research, development and training.
The Association of Mental Health Providers, known until May 2017 as Mental Health Providers Forum (MHPF), is a registered charity based in London and the representative body for voluntary and community sector mental health organisations in England and Wales, working nationally and regionally to influence practice and policy. It aims to improve the range and quality of mental health services by increasing the involvement of the voluntary sector in delivering them, working in partnership with the wider sector and government agencies. Specific projects include the promotion of innovation in the sector, evidencing best practice to achieve the best outcomes for individuals and supporting recovery.
The National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU) was a governmental organisation in England charged with supporting the implementation of mental health policy. The unit worked to achieve this by advising on best practice for improving mental health and mental health services. NMHDU closed on 31 March 2011.
The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) is a charity based in the United Kingdom focusing on crime and the criminal justice system. It seeks to bring together people involved in criminal justice through various means, including publications, conferences, and courses.
Shared Lives, which is also known as Adult Placement in some areas, is a UK form of support and accommodation for adults with need wherein approved individuals or families open their lives to aid older or disabled persons.
Agenda is a UK-based charity which campaigns for women and girls at risk. The charity aims to highlight the needs of what it considers to be the most excluded women and girls: those who have experienced extensive violence, abuse, Psychological trauma, and economic inequality, including problems such as homelessness, incarceration, addiction, serious mental health issues, engagement in prostitution, and other forms of disadvantage. The organisation has 53 members, a mix of charities working with women across the various issues Agenda seeks to address.