The Camau Accommodation Probation Service provides vital support to men in the probation system who are struggling to find safe and stable housing. Without secure accommodation, they face higher risks of reoffending, unemployment, and poor mental health barriers that prevent long-term recovery and reintegration into society.
The Camau service is available to both sentenced and unsentenced men (men on remand) aged 18+ with low, medium, and high complexity of accommodation related need in the following regions of Wales:
Dyfed-Powys.
Gwent.
South Wales.
Men returning to Wales from prison establishments in North Wales and across England.
We work with men on probation who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness to progress through their housing journey and take steps towards stable accommodation. In doing this we will connect them to skills, options and services that will empower them to have ownership of their housing journey.
Our service supports, informs and empowers our neighbours in custody and the community, on every step of their journey to regain or retain housing and reach their full potential.
The Camau Service provides a comprehensive range of accommodation-related activities, designed to help clients access safe, stable accommodation.
The Camau Support Team works closely with each client to determine and address their needs. Support includes a mix of group and one-to-one accommodation related interventions, delivered in mandated locations. Services we provide include:
Homelessness prevention.
Access to housing.
Support with housing applications – assistance for people due to be leaving custody and Local authority housing applications for people in the community.
Support with applying for supported housing appropriate to individual support needs.
Support with applying for rent deposit/ rent in advance applications for Private Rented housing.
Advice on housing rights, entitlements, changes in legislation, local services, and support networks.
Affordability advice and support including Income and expenditure calculations/budgeting for a home.
Information on community resources to help settle into the community.
Referrals to specialist interventions, including Citizens Advice and Money Advice Service, Illegal Money Lending Team and local Credit Unions; emergency accommodation and DWP crisis payments.
Advice and support with Benefit eligibility – benefits checker, support with applications.
Housing training / workshops in Finding Accommodation, Tenancy Sustainment, being a Good Tenant and Moving on and preparing to return to the community from custody
Peer Mentoring and volunteering.
Referrals into Forward Connect.
Regular themed social activities to develop social skills and build confidence.
Access to the new Forward Community app that is available for both iOS and Android.
Sentenced
Referrals can only be made by probation service staff via the CORRE. The CORRE will take the lead with the Refer and Monitor Interventions system.
Unsentenced (Remand)
Referrals can be made by Prison Resettlement Teams and court-based probation service staff via a quick Microsoft Forms based referral form. For more information, or if you have any difficulty referring, please contact us at probationwalesadmin@forwardtrust.org.uk.
Call us: 020 3981 5525.
Email us: info@forwardtrust.org.uk.
For local enquiries email: probationwalesadmin@forwardtrust.org.uk.
