Why the NICRO UK Trust for a safer South Africa?

More and more young South Africans are finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. However something is being done to remedy this and it works.

NICRO, through its Diversion Programmes, offers thousands of children, who find themselves in conflict with the law, a second chance. These children are diverted into programmes that make them accountable for their actions and encourage them to become constructive, contributing citizens.

There are thousands of South Africans, ex-South Africans and those simply interested in reducing crime in South
Africa currently living and working in the UK.

The NICRO UK Trust allows people in the UK, to donate funds to support the work of NICRO South Africa, especially the diversion and development work.

Whether the donation is large or small, once off or re-occurring, each and every pound donated will contribute to making a positive impact in the lives of many thousands of children in South Africa.

NICRO believes to reduce crime in South Africa we need to invest in our children.

NICRO's Diversion Programmes offer children who find themselves on the wrong side of the law the chance to shape up. It is an opportunity for these children to take control of their lives and to become contributing citizens rather than continue their destructive behaviour.

Diversion started in 1992 in response to the lack of a comprehensive child justice system in South Africa and the horrific conditions under which children were being held in prison for many months, awaiting trial.

Diversion targets high-risk children across race, gender and wealth barriers in South Africa.

The results of the Diversion Programmes have been startling. In the first longitudinal study, 93.5% of the children did not re-offend in the first year. In the second study, 80% of the same children had not re-offended.

All this is achieved through personalised and careful attention to the needs of each participant.

All Diversion Programmes have three stages:

1. Assessment: finding out if the child who has been referred (usually from the court) would benefit from this programme and whether he/she fit the selection criteria.
   
2. Intervention: the programme consists of one or a combination of the options below.
   
3. Follow-up: finding out how the child is doing some time later, and whether further support is needed.

The Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES): A series of 6 to 8 sessions of life-skills training sessions that result in a changed outlook and increased skills to deal with challenges. Children find that they have more choices, and feel less trapped by circumstance.

The Journey: Like the YES, the Journey offers opportunities to children to change their lives, but it is aimed at high risk children, repeat offenders, serious offenders, and those who just cannot find a social niche. The programme has an outdoor adventure and a vocational component. Use is made of mentors to support and guide the children.

Victim-Offender and Family Group Conferences: The child and the victim, together with their families or supporters attend a carefully prepared meeting aimed at reconciliation and finding ways of repairing the damage.

Pre-trial Community Service: The child is given an opportunity to "pay back" a number of hours through
community service. Community participation in providing and monitoring the placements for candidates to do community service, is vital to the success of this programme.

All the Diversion Programmes are in lieu of a court case, which would present a criminal record. If the child does not stick to the conditions, however, he/ she is referred back to court and the case proceeds as normal.

The case is withdrawn on the condition that the child attends the programmes.

The NICRO UK Trust invites you to become part of the solution to crime in South Africa. Whether you donate as little as £10 a month in the form of a standing order, or whether it is a large or small once-off donation, each and every pound donated contributes to making a positive impact in the lives of thousands of children every year. To make a contribution please print and complete the Donation Form and send it to the NICRO UK Trust for a safer South Africa.