On Friday 22nd March Harriet Baldwin MP visited the West Merica Transition to Adulthood pilot project, delivered by the youth charity YSS, commenting afterwards: “It makes so much sense to work with younger offenders to try to address the problems that might lead to reoffending”.

She was joined on the visit by Barrie Sheldon, West Merica’s new Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, who added: “The Police and Crime Commissioner is fully supportive of the work being done in West Mercia to shape better lives for young people caught up in the Criminal Justice System and Care Farms such as the Fold are providing a key service to communities. The work of the YSS Transition to Adulthood project is both creative and innovative.”

The West Worcestershire MP, who is also Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Employment Minister, had the opportunity to hear first-hand the experiences of the service users on the project. A lively discussion followed, touching on accommodation issues, employment, part time courses, difficulties in accessing full time courses if receiving Job Seeker’s Allowance, the lack of things to do that are not expensive and transport issues.

Harriett Baldwin and Barrie Sheldon were also joined by Eric Wood, Deputy PCC for Warwickshire, and were hosted by Chair of YSS Trustees Lady Susanna McFarlane, Rob Smith, Chief Executive YSS, together with Les King, West Mercia Probation Trust Worcestershire Deputy Head and Keith Barham, Head of West Mercia YOS.