Sycamore Tree

"taking responsibility for my actions, I stopped thinking about myself and started thinking of others."

Restorative Justice / Victim Awareness programme

Sycamore Tree is a six-session programme taught in prison to a group of up to 20 learners. The Sycamore Tree programme raises victim awareness among offenders and teaches the principles and application of restorative justice. Offenders on the programme explore the effects of crime on victims, offenders, and the community, and discuss what it would mean to take responsibility for their personal actions. For most offenders on Sycamore Tree the most powerful element of the programme is when a victim of crime comes in to talk through how crime has impacted their lives. At the end of each programme members of the community are invited to support and bear witness to the offenders' intentions to put into practice their improved attitudes and behaviour. Offenders have an opportunity in the final session to express their remorse - some write letters, poems or create works of art or craft.

Sycamore Tree currently runs in over 30 prisons and YOIs in England and Wales, and around 2000 offenders participate every year. The programme is taught using a variety of methods: large and small group discussions, tutor presentations, DVD clips, drama, and personal study time.

Volunteers

Apart from the programme itself offenders benefit from the contact with volunteers who are motivated by their Christian faith to reach out and help those in need. Sycamore Tree is a Christian values-based programme but is not faith promoting.

Each Sycamore Tree programme is presented by a fully trained tutor and several small group leaders, all supported by one of Prison Fellowship's Regional Coordinators.

Quality Assurance

Sycamore Tree is accredited by the Open College Network (OCN) at both Level One and Level Two on the National Qualifications Framework. Prison Fellowship is an OCN approved centre. Quality Assurance is, therefore, a huge factor in the success and continued provision of Sycamore Tree programmes. Our aim is to 'Say what we do; Do what we say; Prove it and Improve it'.

Positive Outcomes

To provide evidence of the quality of the programme and its delivery Prison Fellowship commissioned Sheffield Hallam University's Research Centre for Community Justice to carry out an evaluation of more than 2,000 prisoners who had taken part in Sycamore Tree. A report was published in March 2005 carrying the statement "Based on the analysis of the whole sample there was a statistically significant reduction on all the Crime Pics II scales indicating that the programme had the desired impact on participants and reduced the attitudes that are known to be conducive to offending behaviour". A larger scale evaluation, taking into consideration around 5,000 sets of Crime Pics II data is being carried out in Spring 2009.

The 2005 Sheffield Hallam report can be downloaded from our Downloads page.

Positive comments

"The results are really encouraging and I was pleased that the positive impact which prisoners so often report is replicated in the outcome of the research ... I think the fact that Prison Fellowship has taken such an 'evidence-based approach' significantly improves the credibility of Sycamore Tree and I hope that it will continue to be delivered and developed." Michael Spurr, HMPS Operations Director

"I do feel that both the prisoners and the victims get such a lot out of their meeting and feel that a lot of healing and understanding happens from both sides. I am a staunch believer in this programme and talk about the benefits at talks and presentations throughout the borough. We are also happy to display (with the prisoners' permission) their letters and drawings in the office so that other victims can see the results of the programme." Jan Stanley, Chorley Branch Manager, Victim Support Lancashire

"For thirty years I have been a magistrate and have visited many prisons. I visited prisons, I did not visit prisoners until I became a witness on Sycamore Tree. I was able to listen and speak to the men. This was the first time I saw them as people, spending time with them, willing to share, speaking about their families and victims, a time to acknowledge and say sorry." A magistrate

"I have been a supporter of Sycamore Tree since I first learnt what it had to offer in 2000. I was Governor of an adult prison and quickly realised the tremendous positive impact that it could make on those attending. I am passionate about the support and life chances that we give to young people. Therefore, when I arrived at Feltham YOI, I was extremely pleased to know that Sycamore Tree has a place and purpose here. I intend to continue the support for the programme for as long as I am able to." Andrew Cross, Governor of HMP/YOI Feltham

"Sycamore Tree made me realise the pain I caused to my victim, the families and myself. I wanted to take responsibility for what I had done. It made me look at everything in a different way. I stopped thinking about myself and started thinking about others." A young offender at HMYOI Feltham

"I was convicted of ABH (Actual Bodily Harm) a year ago and have since turned to Buddhism to become a better person who stays away from violence and confrontation with people. I have also took part in this amazing Sycamore Tree course which has taught me so much about crime and its victims and impacts. I am willing to partake in any other Prison Fellowship programmes as well" An offender

An Offender's poem:

To all the people who have been hurt by me

As I watch the smile drain from you
The tears run down your face
The heartache there is clear to see
And all because of me.

The pain
The hurt
The sorrow cause and why?
Because of me.

No excuse can there be
No thoughts of you were there for me
I was too blind to see
It all comes back to me.

Now in the darkness, alone at night
The tears I cry, the heartaches ripe
So much lost
And all because of me.

It's time to turn life around
Work hard to put things right
Saying sorrys not enough
I have to show it's right.

A promise here I give you now
Is to always think of you
To rebuild relationships
Just make our life anew.

And that will be because of me!