Vulnerable women in Lincolnshire will be steered away from a life of crime thanks to a new service launched by a local charity.

The Women RISE Project has been officially launched by Lincolnshire Action Trust (LAT) following pilot funding in 2023 from the Ministry of Justice.

RISE stands for Resilient, Informed, Supported and Empowered and the service offers a network of pop-up women’s centres across the county providing a trauma-informed service for women, delivered by women. It helps to build resilience by providing information, support and training to empower the women of Lincolnshire who are facing challenges.

Speaking at the launch event, Marc Jones, Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner said: “Women are often criminalised and imprisoned for very minor offences which relate to poverty, trauma, or both. These women also present with challenges such as substance misuse and mental health issues as well as complex histories of trauma and abuse.

“We know that over half (58%) of prison sentences given to women in 2022 were for less than six months, despite a widespread recognition that short prison sentences are harmful and ineffective.  Only a matter of weeks can be long enough for mothers to lose their homes, for their children to be taken into care, to lose jobs and support networks – while also failing to address relevant root causes of any offending or to set in motion post-release support.

“Those are just some of the reasons why Women RISE Project is so important. This service is a fabulous step in us starting to realise the ambitions of the Women and Girls Strategy, but I must stress that all services have a role in this. 

“Too often vulnerable women have had to get support from within the criminal justice system when we know that the best response to their needs does not lie in that system.  The availability of accommodation, support and services to meet the complexity of women’s needs and access to trauma-informed and supportive therapeutic practice, would do much to prevent entry into the criminal justice system in the first place.”

Alison Goddard, Chief Executive of LAT, said: “This is a critical moment for women and girls in Lincolnshire. In 2023, LAT secured pilot funding from the Ministry of Justice to establish Women RISE Project, Lincolnshire’s first women’s centre model – a one-stop-shop of support services.

“We know that women’s centres demonstrably support significant improvements in women’s lives and reduces reoffending to 5% (national average 23.4%).”

The women’s centre is now available to support women facing multiple disadvantages, especially those involved in or at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.

To find out more information about Women RISE Project call 01522 806611 or email hello@latcharity.org.uk. Alternatively, to make a referral, please complete the form here.