Inside Connections Support CIC

Inside Connections is set up to support individuals who have experience in custody, care or the armed forces and those in the community.

What do we do?

Training - Inside Connections run a variety of programmes that are labour market lead, this includes the Building Lives Academy which specifically targets work within the construction industry; as well as courses in HGV preparation, Broadband (Fibre optic) and BTEC sports (16-18 years). All courses lead to employment opportunities.

Recruitment – We have an agency that feeds from our training programmes, it aims to give paid experience to those who have completed our courses with the opportunity of securing a full-time role after 13 weeks.

Mentoring – Each learner has access to a mentor for as long as they need one, this helps them with any personal issues, employment queries, and maintain a commitment throughout. The mentor usually has a similar background to the learner with the story to influence and inspire them to become better.

Mobiles – We run a safeguarding mobile network that aims to help those who are vulnerable or using a service and their support workers above them. We have enabled 4 free-call numbers which could be the prison gate, carer, probation, support worker, AA or NA support line and so on. IC Mobile also provides an online management portal were you can view, top-up and amend free-call numbers for a unlimited amount of devices. www.icmobile.co.uk

Greeting cards – We sell affordable and personalised greeting cards, aiming to keep loved ones connected when a family member is in prison. We are a fraction of the price of competitors such as JailMate and MoonPig and we also donate a percentage in to our community fund which is put back in to reform and rehabilitation. www.icgreetings.co.uk

App – The ‘Inside Connections’ app is a one stop shop for all of our services with additional features to help those who are leaving prison. On the app we have a prison finder with directions and information, a CV builder, dentist finder, doctor finder, Job Centre finder, tax support, legal aid solicitors, housing support and many more with stuff being added to constantly.

Supported living - Is provided for 16-18-year-olds exiting care or juvenile custody. All will provided with a programme that will see them gain qualifications and enter sustainable employment before entering adult life.

COVID-19 – During this pandemic we aim to get mobile phones delivered to those who are isolating and may be alone or vulnerable with no contact to the outside world as we believe this is crucial to a person’s wellbeing. We have also used our platform to work in conjunction with other community hubs in Liverpool to deliver food parcels to the vulnerable and elderly.