On 29th September 2020, Circles UK was delighted to launch online, an innovative new programme – Circles ReBoot. Over 100 professionals attended the event to learn about this new Circle targeted specifically at individuals who access Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) (indecent images of children).
With the Covid 19 pandemic, many Circles services that have traditionally been completed Face to Face are now delivered by telephone or video call. These calls can be a vital support and connection during a period when so many Core Members (CMs) are isolated and anxious. However, working with people remotely presents different challenges and usually requires a fresh approach if the interaction is to be optimised.
Circles UK commissioned The Geese Theatre Company to create a production which illustrated the journey of a sexual harm causer from prison to release and joining a Circle of Support and Accountability (Circles). Circles is a well proven effective intervention to help reduce sexual reoffending. Circles consist of 4-6 well trained and professionally supervised community volunteers who regularly meet with the person (the Core Member) to provide support and accountability as he / she reintegrates back into society. The production was first staged at the Circles UK AGM in November 2019 and attended by over 90 people. It was extremely positively received.
Adele Robinson and a team from Sky News, working with Circles UK and Circles Providers recently produced a sensitive and very informative documentary on Circles of Support and Accountability (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Hdcz_fXQk). This evoked extremely positive responses from the public, so much so that Sky News decided to extend the viewing. What are the key messages that we can take away from this documentary?
Circles UK, as the national body for Circles Providers across England and Wales, can provide information on the availability of Circles across England and Wales and how to volunteer for our work. Circles UK itself does not provide advice or counselling. In a situation when anyone contacting us provides identifying information and raises our concerns that a child is at risk, or a criminal offence has been committed of which the police may be unaware, we will pass that information onto the appropriate agencies.