Safer Living Foundation (SLF) is a charity established in 2014 by representatives from HMP Whatton, Nottingham Trent University, Nottinghamshire Police and the National Probation Service. The fundamental aim of the charity is to prevent further victims of sexual abuse by setting up and running prevention and rehabilitation projects for convicted and potential sexual offenders at risk of sexual offending. The rehabilitative intervention is modelled on Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA).
The main project undertaken by the Safer Living Foundation is the delivery of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). CoSA are a successful community initiative proven to reduce sexual offending. A Circle is a group of 4-6 specially recruited and trained volunteers from a local community who meet weekly with an individual who has committed a sexual offence after their release (known as the Core Member). The volunteers create the Circle of Support around the Core Member and offers social and practical support to the individual as well as requiring the Core Member to take responsibility (be accountable) for their ongoing risk management. The Circle aims to enable individuals who have committed sexual offences the opportunity to integrate back into society whilst still holding them accountable for their behaviour. The concept seeks to balance both community protection from victimisation and the reintegration of individuals who are often socially isolated and marginalised. All Circles and their volunteers are very closely supervised and supported by a suitably qualified Project Manager who is in close liaison with all statutory agencies involved with the Core Member is Police, MAPPA, National Probation Service etc.
