Blog

I arrive to work at 8.30. While having a cup of tea, I complete my paperwork from the day before including case notes, time sheet, travel expenses etc. I spend around an hour doing this, as most of the women I support prefer appointments later morning/afternoon. I also spend time speaking with my colleagues: we like helping each other with ideas on how best to handle situations and sharing information where to go for help from other agencies. 

Circle’s role within the Shine partnership is the involvement of the FABI Project supporting women pre and post release from prison and their families in the community. Linda has been known to the FABI Project, following self-referral through Shine’s Women’s Mentoring Service whilst Linda was serving a 19 month prison sentence in in HMP Edinburgh. I was allocated as Linda’s Shine Mentor to help build her self-esteem and confidence and provide both practical and emotional support to address Linda’s isolation within the community.

My current role in Shine is very different from that of a PBC and so going in and speaking to the women in order to take referrals has been a new experience for me.

This last week at Shine mentoring in Dundee in the Barnardos team we have been able to make use of the other Barnardos services that operate in this area to benefit the mentees that we work with. Sharing an office with our Barnardos colleagues gives us a great insight into the work they do and being aware of their work has enabled us to refer many of our mentees onto other projects that we know will assist them.

 Mental Health

Every woman I have mentored with Shine has mental health issues, ranging from moderate to severe and it contributes to their offending behaviour.  It can be difficult to talk about mental health for anyone, but particularly the exceptionally vulnerable women that Shine works with.