The Circles service has attracted growing appreciation as more have heard about our work. In a challenging and difficult subject such as reducing sexual reoffending we are delighted to be able to provide the following commendations:
“I would like to say to the volunteers, Thank God for you! The work you do is so important, so precious; you are saving so many children from intense suffering. And the fact that you are volunteers makes all the difference...an added dimension to the value of the work you do. Please keep up your strength as there can be nothing more worthwhile – from the children’s point of view, for the sake of the children.”
Esther Rantzen CBE, journalist, writer and founder of ChildLine
“I just wanted to email to say how much I feel that the work of Circles of Support and Accountability is needed. My brother is a registered sex offender and has to meet regularly with probation and he also attends a Circles meeting once a week. I cannot tell you what impact this has had on me. Thank you for all your work”
Janice (not her real name) a survivor of sexual abuse
“This isn’t an easy ride for the released sex offender, but at least it gives them some hope; and for people (Circle Volunteers) to do that in their spare time is a remarkable thing to do. And I salute them.”
Lord Ian Blair, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
AWARDS
In 2010 Circles UK was delighted to be given The Longford Award in recognition of the courage of the Circles service in tackling sexual offending through community volunteers. The citation read, “Circles UK brings together voluntary and statutory partners, including victims’ groups, in a constructive alternative response which provides a much greater opportunity for preventing further crime, rehabilitating the offender, and achieving safer communities for us all.”
The following year our work was recognized in winning a prestigious Charity Award, in the Social Care and Welfare category. The shortlisting which preceded the eventual award, said, “By being shortlisted, Circles UK has already demonstrated that it is amongst the best managed charities in the UK”. We trust we’re still worthy of those words…
