Desistance and Disengagement Programme – Mentoring Services

Tender description

In the 2015 Counter Extremism Strategy, the Government committed to deliver a new de-radicalisation programme aimed at changing the behaviour (desistence) and beliefs (disengagement, or ‘deradicalisation’) of those who have already engaged in terrorist-related activity or who are further down the path to radicalisation than those for whom the Channel Programme was designed. • The new Desistance and Disengagement programme will focus on those convicted of terrorism, or terrorism related offences, who have served their custodial sentences and are due to be released on licence. • The programme will address the complex range of needs and factors that lead individuals to become involved in terrorism, and will run alongside statutory risk assessment and management processes such as the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (‘MAPPA’). • In addition to the existing interventions already available through those statutory partners, we believe an additional suite of psychological, theological and social/occupational provisions and mentoring will provide the best possible means for these individuals to disengage from extremism and reintegrate safely back into society. • We recognise the skills and expertise the third sector holds in facilitating and encouraging social integration into society. We are therefore tendering for a Non-Governmental Organisation to deliver the mentoring aspect of the programme. • This mentoring services contract is a 15 month pilot study. It will commence on the 1st October 2016 and will expire on the 31st December 2017. Should the pilot prove successful, the Authority may wish to extend contract services to 31st March 2020. Option periods are defined in the tender documentation.