The Choices Consortium is hosting a dynamic London wide networking event in partnership with the London CRC, NOMS, BTEG, Voyage and other partners.

This event is the first in a series of opportunities for black and minority tutors, mentors, employment brokers, ETE providers, emotional support workers, gender based violence workers and trauma and education specialists. 

Attendees will find out about changes and up and coming commissioning opportunities within the criminal justice system and wider social sector, plus get the chance to network and build partnerships with other service providers from across London.

The Choices Consortium aims to galvanise a diverse community of tutors, specialist mentors, and other professionals - in particular we want to reach out to female practitioners. We intend to give shape to innovative partnership programmes that help to reverse the shocking reoffending trends and disproportionality in relation to young black and/or Muslims men within the criminal justice system and poor quality of support too often experienced by the most vulnerable and challenged service users. 

Choices will convene regular events that bring together important sector leaders and agencies to share knowledge, whilst exploring joined up and longer term solutions. Emphasis will be placed on ethical partnership development, smart commissioning and capacity building opportunities for small community based service providers.

We  aim to host a information packed evening designed to share the critical information needed for collective solutions leading to meaningful and lasting change.

Speakers include:

Paul Anderson - Voyage CEO: Chair for the event 

Patsy Wollaston & Andrew Hillas - Assistant Chief Officers and Pan London leads on Young Adults, Gangs and Restorative Justice Issues

Dee Hepher-Wallace - NOMS lead on Transition in relation to the TR Agenda: The CRC roll-outs so far new contract opportunities

Dr Diahanne Rhiney - Founder of SWIM: Supporting Young Women and Combating Gender Based Violence

Patrick Vernon - Health Partnership Co-ordinator National Housing Federation and board member of Healthwatch England: addressing health and housing needs

Toluwani Farento - CEO of LFA: Specialist recruitment 

Mark Blake - BTEG (Black Training and Enterprise Group): The Young Review and next steps 

Annete Dale Perera & Viv Ahmun - Choices Consortium Directors: sharing, capacity building, and developing best practice 

Eche Egbuonu -Young Black Men Support Officer: Developing leaders, supporting change  

Outcomes for the Evening include:

• Increased understanding of the sector's capacity building needs
• Improved awareness of the health implications for work within the Criminal Justice Sector
• Fostering a supportive and nurturing environment for an important yet under resourced sector
• Update on the Transformation of Rehabilitation Agenda and CRCs