Spéire Nua

Today I saw an advertisement that the ESIF funding was doing the rounds again this year. My God how long have they been trying to tackle these issues that underpin the regeneration framework. The idea that we are at the mercy of a government fund makes me even more enraged. As a person who fits the cliche that has been cultivated by these schemes over the last decade, (I would be recognised as a minority) yet when I do my morning inventory & meditation I reflect on all that I have been blessed with and am truly in gratitude for. A life beyond my wildest dreams! I had people who believed in me, loved me and supported me through my transition of rehabilitation, but I’m not naive to the Everest that is the pursuit of happiness, after 18yrs in prison. The majority of my peers are now strung out on the streets or dead. It’s too late for most of them. But I’d like to hope that we can find a way to engage the most at risk in Limerick John Moran Mayor of Limerick. Rather than the circus of competition that can be instigated by financial incentives. With over 300million spent, why are my friends dead from addiction? Surely there is another way. I cannot stress the importance of lived experience in power holding positions. As I walked through town today (I’m currently unemployed) I thought of the trailer for an upcoming film called “THE NO SHOW,” it really captures the unique story of working class Limerick. When I watched just 30 seconds of this trailer, it was like a punch in the gut. It really highlighted the loss, the pain, the shame and the hopelessness that has followed men like me around for countless generations. This is what we are faced with. I’m so grateful for Catherine O'Halloran and Grace Dyas, the creators of the film, for spending the time to excavate these truths that nobody wants to talk about or even acknowledge are real. We all want to look away! I can testify that they are!!

Sector Colleagues circulate widely

Incarceration is often framed as a significant financial burden on society. 📚This article explores how detention houses can offer substantial long-term advantages that extend beyond mere cost calculations. It underscores that this shift from large prison institutions to detention houses is about more than rethinking detention—it’s about investing in people and breaking harmful cycles. “True savings come not from cutting corners, but from making smart investments in the future of incarcerated individuals.” 💡Society must recognize that the daily cost per incarcerated person per day is only a small part of the overall equation. By adopting a holistic view that accounts for both economic and social impacts, we can make more informed decisions and build a justice system that benefits everyone. This includes breaking down silo’s and doing politics from a long-term perspective! This article is part of the INSPIRE project (Incarceration & Social Purpose in Restorative Cities) which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. 📄Do you want to learn more on the myths of cost-efficiency of detention houses? Read the full article here; https://lnkd.in/eXMdBTjN #RESCALED #DetentionHouses #BlogPost #JusticeReform #INSPIREProject #ErasmusPlus

https://lnkd.in/ekGjUfkZ listen at 19:45 I admire your commitment to change I think this is a fantastic project Damien Quinn

Really special moment at Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction & Conference Centre in Belfast this evening with The Turnaround Project and our good friends Richard Good and Michael McCusker with special visit from Raphael Rowe at the launch of Turnaround Talks 🎧💪💙 Really grateful to have you guys in our circle 🤝

"To know there is something on the outside in terms of employment and training has had a very positive effect on me" - this is the feedback from a participant at a recent 'Building Bridges' event at Wheatfield prison. IASIO was proud to organise this event, alongside Irish Prison Service and SOLAS (An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna). 'Building Bridges' events involve a lot of work behind the scenes coordinating with social enterprises, training services, community employment schemes and educational institutions to invite them into the prison. Over the course of a day, we met with almost 200 people in Wheatfield. From the photos, you can see the array of people who committed their day to this outreach at Wheatfield - we thank each of you. Events like these are a core part of our work for us at IASIO where we draw on our network to come together to support people with criminal convictions to build stable futures. It's very rewarding to read over the feedback which reminds us how challenging it can seem for people in prison to try to plan for a stable way of life once they leave. "Most often we feel abandoned by the community and government," said one participant in his feedback. "This connects us back with our communities and reminds us that all is not lost. There is hope on the horizon." If you would like to get involved in future 'Building Bridges' events, please get in touch to find out how you can contribute and benefit, and how it has worked for other employers and educators. Our network is building and we want you to be part of it! Sharan Kelly Jacob Harmon Barry Owens Spéire Nua The Cornmarket Project Matt Talbot Community Trust

Delighted to be coming to Galway for our last Breakfast Club of the year! We will be joined by Damien Quinn of Spéire Nua and Tracy Keogh founder of Grow Remote to discuss Leadership and Persistence!. The event will be held in University of Galway's Institute for Lifecourse and Society. It is open to anyone in the sector (anyone at all), it is free you simply have to register to attend https://lnkd.in/eJSw9YwR Following the Breakfast Club there will be a The Wheel members event that all members are welcome to stay for.

🎧 As we enter #RestorativeJustice Week, which runs from November 17 to 23, we invite you to listen to a special episode of On Probation, the Probation Service's six-part podcast, in which host Colm O'Regan explores the subject of Restorative Justice. In this episode, Colm interviews Emma Gunn, a Senior Probation Officer in the Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit in the Probation Service, and James Gough, whose sister Mary was murdered in 2001, devastating her family, friends and community. Following the conviction of her husband for her murder, James went through the process of Restorative Justice, culminating in a meeting between the two. You can listen to this episode of On Probation, and all episodes, wherever you get your podcasts. Links below: Listen on Spotify 👉 https://lnkd.in/eUiZf2hx Listen on Apple 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKA7T7gV

We are having a busy few weeks in IASIO between the elections, supporting our teams and clients and planning our new name (more on this soon!). We also managed a very worthwhile visit to Cork prison to support the IASIO team running the Building Bridges project, hosted along with SOLAS (An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna) and Irish Prison Service. The occasion was a 'Progression Expo' - an event that brings employers and educational organisations into the prison in order to showcase employment opportunities, further and higher education & training and support services. We were grateful to get to find out more about our clients' work and education needs, as well as getting to highlight some of the opportunities they can pursue once they leave the prison. Big thanks to staff from Mr Price Group, University College Cork, Munster Technological University, Cork Education and Training Board, Mark from MT Fitness Cork and and many others who came to the prison with us with open minds and lots of enthusiasm, making it a very useful and informative event. We look forward to working with Irish Prison Service in the future on more of these events that build bridges between our clients and employers.