Projects aimed at improving employability are seen as key to changing offenders' lives and reducing reoffending. Since January 2010, the NOMS Co-financing Organisation (NOMS CFO) has been working with the European Social Fund (ESF) on a jointly funded programme to assist participants who would benefit from additional employment and skills provision.

During the first two phases of the programme 2010-2014, NOMS will receive £139million from the European Social Fund. This will be used to commission new services that add value to prison and probation services. NOMS financial contribution to the programme is its existing expenditure on a range of contracts that provide offenders with rehabilitation services and employment whilst in custody.

The second phase of the programme, 2011- 2014, will see an increased focus on harder to reach groups of offenders including former sex workers, ex service personnel and young offenders in transition and for the first time NOMS will be focusing on the client group of 16-18 year olds.

This funding has been used to commission regionally focussed projects from a range of providers and sub contractors who have been appointed to help offenders and ex-offenders access employment services assisting them to gain employment. The programme is currently on schedule to exceed its targets.

The focus of the programme is to:

• enhance the employability of offenders and
• increase access to employment and skills opportunities

The NOMS ESF programme aims to complement existing provision, particularly the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in prisons as well as other existing employment and skills services.

More information on the European Social Fund (Department for Work and Pensions)