Bus pass and shopping vouchers included in bag given to people leaving custody

A number of people who have left custody and returned home to Inverclyde have been given a bag of “practical items” as part of a test initiative.

The ‘Community Matters Bag’ – containing things like food, toiletries, a bus pass, shopping vouchers and books – will support 40 individuals in total.

Recipients can also request other products such as a mobile phone, large multi-use flask, hot water bottle and power bank via the pilot project.

An update on the programme, which has involved Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) health improvement team, has been included in a paper to the integration joint board on Monday.

It explained: “Led by the Inverclyde Community Justice Third Sector Forum (a sub-group of the Inverclyde Community Justice Partnership) and hosted by CVS Inverclyde, funding has been secured via Inverclyde HSCP health improvement team to pilot 40 ‘Community Matters Bags’ for people leaving custody and returning home to Inverclyde.

“Each bag has a range of practical items, including food, toiletries, a bus pass, shopping vouchers, books donated from Inverclyde Libraries and information on a range of services that can assist people returning to Inverclyde.

“Additionally, recipients can request either a mobile phone or a large multi-use flask or hot water bottle and a power bank.”

The report, prepared by chief officer Kate Rocks, continued: “The initiative has been shaped with agencies who support people leaving prison custody as well as people who have had lived experience of custody.

“The bags can either be delivered to their home address in advance of their liberation with support of housing providers, within HSCP officers or with Inverclyde Faith in Throughcare, a local charity who supports people with justice experience.”