The IPR Advance project ran from October 2013 to September 2016, thanks to a three-year grant from City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charity.

Advance focused on helping ex-offenders, particularly those affected by drug and alcohol issues, with their welfare benefits and debt problems. The sessions formed part of a package of support for the client that improves their resettlement and helps to reduce re-offending rates. Income maximisation is key to this client group, who often find themselves struggling to get their lives back together following release from custody. The project complemented the activities of specialist drugs and alcohol agencies and the Probation Service in Islington by ensuring that their clients had access to specialist advice. Working with these agencies, IPR helped break the cycle of offending and re-offending and put in place the building blocks for more stable lives in the community.

Sessions took place at: Cranstoun Drug Services in N1, Islington Drug and Alcohol Specialist Services (IDASS) in N7, and Probation Servicesin EC1.

Further funding is sought to continue delivering this important work supporting ex-offenders, particularly those affected by drug and alcohol issues.