Our Mission + Vision

ARK Resettlement Services works with its partners to tackle the conditions that lead to reoffending. We aim to:

1. Reduce social exclusion and its effects by providing specialist housing and one-to-one support for people transitioning from the criminal justice system
2. Reduce the factors that lead to offending, such as poverty and homelessness
3. Build relationships to get alongside our service users, understanding their needs and supporting their motivation to change
4. Improve social and living skills
5. Improve physical and mental health
6. Increase access to skills training and employment.

Our vision is for a society where all those with a criminal conviction are given a chance to reintegrate and build better futures.

Our mission is to end cycles of reoffending by providing resettlement, reintegration and rehabilitation support for those transitioning from the criminal justice system.

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1. Inclusive – We provide responsive services based on a person-centred approach which are accessible to, and meet the diverse needs of, our service user group.
2. Responsive – We listen to our stakeholders, staff and service users and work collaboratively and in partnership with others to develop and deliver services to meet stakeholders’ needs. We seek to ensure that we maintain a service-user focus in everything that we do.
3. Trusted – We maintain credibility and a trustworthy partnership with our stakeholders and service users by employing experienced and committed staff and investing in their development.
4. Open – We communicate with staff, service users and stakeholders in a way that is honest, transparent and accountable. We are committed to promoting diversity and equality, individual and group respect, rights and responsibilities.
5. Creative – We are open to change and innovation.
6. Collaborative – We work in partnership to tackle the conditions that lead to offending.
   

• We support people transitioning from the criminal justice system: housing is the cornerstone of our support
• We are person-centred: our support is relational and responds to individual needs
• We are locally rooted and regionally connected: we deliver services in North and East London for people from around the capital
• We reflect and celebrate the diversity of our service users and our place.

ARKRS’s approach and service offer was designed from an awareness of the gaps in the current system, and how that system was failing people with a criminal conviction. However, ARKRS forms part of an ecosystem of support and reintegration for people with a criminal conviction: we are aware we cannot do it alone and work closely with partners towards shared goals, as described in subsequent chapters. Given our unique set of characteristics and resources, we believe our role in the system is specifically to provide housing-led, personalized support services for people with a criminal conviction in North and East London.

Our model is relational and tailored. Housing is the core service we offer service users, complemented by mentoring and self-development plans. Depending on the needs identified and the plans developed through this one-to-one approach, we are then able to offer support with:

• Accessing training and employment opportunities
• Physical and mental health
• Financial stability and budgeting
• Community reintegration
• Substance misuse
• Tenancy sustainment courses
• Acquiring independent move-on accommodation.