The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group’s submission to the Reducing Reoffending Board on Universal Credit and access to banking.

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) submitted evidence to the Reducing Reoffending Board (RRB) on the barriers people face in accessing bank accounts and Universal Credit in advance of leaving prison and upon release. The paper proposes a number of cross-departmental and innovative solutions in order to address these barriers and ensure government departments can work better together to improve the service.

The RR3 exists with the purpose of building a strong and effective partnership between the voluntary sector and the Ministry of Justice. The group is made up of senior experts from the voluntary sector and meets quarterly with civil servants to provide guidance and feedback on policy developments. The chair for the group and its secretariat is provided by Clinks. The Reducing Reoffending Board (RRB) is a cross-ministerial group chaired by David Lidington MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and attended by senior ministers from all government departments with a stake in the causes and effects of reoffending. The RR3 submitted this paper following a formal request of evidence from the RRB.

Updated March 2020 with minor amends to page 3.