Leo’s journey to cease offending and find employment demonstrates the value of peer support.
CashBack VOW Project is delivered by Police Scotland and Aid & Abet. The project aims to support young people aged 16-25 who have had involvement in the criminal justice system into positive destinations. Alongside police officers and peer mentors, participants create a plan to help them identify and achieve their goals.
Here’s a look at how transformative this project has been for one young participant.
Leo’s story
Leo is a care-experienced 23 year old man, who was in and out of prison since the age of 16.
Leo believes that the lack of positive influence in his life, and lack of structure and support when leaving care, played a part in the behaviours which he exhibited and the negative choices he made. He served repeated custodial sentences due to a history of offending including crimes of violence. While in prison, Leo didn’t engage with support services for fear of standing out and drawing attention to himself.
Leo was approached by the VOW Project team, and spoke openly about drug use and the significant impact on his physical and mental health. He said he was offending to finance his drug use and desperately wanted to make changes to his life.
Creating a plan
Leo decided that he wanted to cease offending, stop using drugs and find employment.
As part of their participation in the project, each young person is involved in designing a plan focused on their views, goals, desires and achievable outcomes. Participants receive intensive support including physical and mental health, addiction and recovery services, and employability. Each participant must also commit to reduce their offending behaviour.
Leo informed the team that he would like to build his skills and knowledge of the construction industry to improve his employability. The team introduced Leo to a partner organisation Action For Children. Through this relationship, Leo passed his Construction Skills Certification Scheme qualification within 3 months.
Leo also spoke about his love of sport, and football in particular. However, smoking and drug use had damaged his lung capacity, and attempts to re-engage with sport were met with frustration due to his physical health. To compensate, the team contacted CashBack partners Rangers Charity Foundation who were delighted to offer Leo a tour of Ibrox Stadium. This lifted his low mood and allowed him to re-connect with football and his boyhood team.
Leo was fitted with an electronic tag and found the restrictions difficult to cope with – he pushed the boundaries to their limit. Over time, with support from his peer mentor, Leo began to understand that his behaviours had consequences, and the restrictions on his liberty were directly related. Following positive engagement with Criminal Justice Social Work, he began to see a loosening of these restrictions. He appreciated his positive choices being rewarded.
Towards positive destinations
Leo achieved the goals he set for himself during his time with the VOW Project, and improved his own and his family’s quality of life.
The construction qualification he gained was instrumental in him gaining employment, and he ceased all offending and drug use. His dedication to remaining drug free resulted in him passing his drugs test. Following feedback to the Parole Board on his progress, Leo’s tag was removed.
The VOW Project gave me hope and a positive role model.
Leo [pseudonym], VOW Project participant
Leo is now a father and has secured employment. He is able to support his partner and their child at home.
Want to learn more?
- Find out more about Police Scotland’s CashBack VOW Project
- Read the 23-24 VOW Project’s Annual Report to learn more about the project’s impact
- Follow CashBack for Communities on X and Facebook
