Removing barriers

Previous criminal convictions
Arson convictions
Schedule 1
High support needs
Histories of bans and eviction

Projects are becoming increasingly difficult to access. In our 2011 Survey of Needs and Provision (SNAP), we found that 90% of respondents (450 of 500 surveyed) refuse clients access to their services for set reasons or criteria - a figure that has been increasing over the past few years.

Earlier this year, we spoke to a number of service managers, staff and clients across the country to understand the extent, reasons and impact of barriers to accessing services. Very few projects openly have blanket exclusion policies or bans, but barriers take different forms and can be implemented either formally or informally - and often not consciously - to exclude certain people from services.

Myth buster

Here we outline some of the common barriers and exclusions that are in place in many services across the UK. We will attempt to highlight some common misconceptions and point to some examples of where these have been overcome.  We aim to dispel the myths that may form the foundations of blanket exclusions and attempts to explain associated issues. Download our common myth buster here.

Barriers

Here are some key barriers to clients accessing services - click each one for more information.
 
Central to many of these decisions is the calculation of the risk that clients might pose, of either reoffending or committing an act that could cause harm to others or to themselves. When considering risk in this way it is important to have a thorough risk assessment and risk management strategy. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) offers excellent guidance around assessing risk in this way.