Kenny McGeachie of Faith in Throughcare was the guest speaker at Glasgow Churches Together’s annual general meeting, which took place on Monday 24 October in the Ogilvie Centre in Glasgow.
Faith in Throughcare at work
Mr McGeachie, a permanent deacon with the Archdiocese of Glasgow seconded to the project by the Scottish Prison Service, was joined by staff and volunteers to describe the organisation’s work in supporting people who are being released from prison to settle into more fulfilling lives in their families and communities.
An offshoot of Faith in Community Scotland guided by a panel of experts in the field, Faith in Throughcare aims to contribute to the Scottish Government’s target of a 2% reduction in re-offending in Scotland’s economically poorest communities by developing the capacity of local faith groups to provide support to ex-offenders and their families.
“It’s a real, practical example of ecumenism in action,” said Mr McGeachie. Its hub for implementation is the St Matthew Centre, attached to the local Scottish Episcopal church in Possilpark, reaching across the north of the city to Ruchazie.
“A host of local religious groups of several denominations are involved,” added Mr McGeachie. Participating partners include St Augustine’s Roman Catholic church and Springburn Salvation Army plus Church of Scotland parishes at Colston-Milton, Possilpark, Ruchazie and St Paul’s Provanmill.
Faith in Throughcare hopes to achieve these outcomes by 2015:
- 10 local faith groups develop their capacity and recognise their vocation to support offenders both in and out of prison
- 200 short-term offenders improve attitudes, self-confidence and behaviour thereby lessening the likelihood of re-offending
- 100 families of short-term offenders have decreased levels of stress and anxiety and increased levels of well-being and stability
- 100 volunteers increase confidence, skills and knowledge in working with vulnerable people
- 10 local communities have decreased levels of crime and increased sense of safety
- 20 voluntary/community agencies develop partnership approaches and increased access to offenders.
