Supporting ex-offenders in recovery

Frank McDonald is now the dedicated Kairos support worker for ex-offenders. He is based at the Kairos houses in north London and is working with a core group of residents who are acting as peer mentors. Part of Frank’s work will be outreach to prisons.

“We are now holding groups of up to 11 residents who are bonding and helping each other in their struggles,” says Frank. “The peer support system has been invaluable in lockdown and the residents have really supported each other in maintaining their recovery from alcohol and drugs.

“At the start of lockdown I was visiting twice a week and doing socially-distanced one-to-ones in the back garden and on the other days I was in phone contact. I’ve been back on site full time now for the past six weeks and the residents tell me they are very pleased to have consistency in group and keywork sessions. I am working in partnership with probation services in Barnet and Brent, which has been very beneficial for the clients.”