Sycamore Tree Project® in the Community
Recently, the PF Australia chapter in New South Wales completed its first Sycamore Tree Project® pilot project in the community. This pilot worked with both ex-prisoners and offenders on community sentences. The offender participants volunteer for the programme because they are required to complete a certain number of prescribed courses as a term of their sentences. Sycamore Tree is only one in a range of courses.
Sycamore Tree in the community produced some challenges not faced
when it is conducted in prison. Various issues such as lack of
transportation and family issues can arise to hinder their attendance
at the weekly sessions. As always, the ministry faced some problems
recruiting victims but had found two who were willing to attend two
months of weekly sessions. The two volunteer facilitators are excited
about the outcomes of the first pilot and look forward to a second
programme later in 2008.
Offender participants provided feedback on the Sycamore Tree Project®.
Comments included:
"I now understand more about the victim. I used to think I should be able to do anything, never realising how things hurt emotionally."
"I used to always think I was right. Now I understand to consider others and put myself in their shoes and think about things from their angle. It has made a big difference."
July 2008