“It’s a big step forward” Corrections signs on to the Navigate Initiative

Pathway is excited to announce that the New Zealand Department of Corrections has now come on board as an official partner of the Navigate Initiative, a project to launch a specialised pre-release preparation unit inside of Christchurch Men’s Prison. The Navigate Initiative is now entering a joint development phase with Corrections before embarking on a potential 12 month pilot from the beginning of 2018.

“It’s a big step forward,” says Carey Ewing, Reintegration Manager at Pathway. “For the first time this project is no longer just a community driven concept but a community and Corrections partnership, working together with the common goal of creating a safer, happier community for all.”

The Navigate Initiative will be based within prison grounds for men to move into 6-9 months prior to their release. There they will be intensively equipped for life outside through a variety of health, education, life skills, parenting, relationship, and restorative justice supports before they leave the prison gates.

“We believe in this project and the positive impact it will have towards building a bridge between prison and the community,” says Carey. “After many years of work I am so pleased to see it formally get off the ground.”

Pathway is funding the initiative through a social investment model, asking businesses, individuals and churches to invest in $1,000 “supporter shares*” with a five year commitment (a $5,000 donation over a five year period). Shareholders will receive regular reports on how their investment is making a difference and an independent body will be commissioned to report annually on project outcomes. Pathway still needs to sell a further 100 supporter shares, so please get in touch if you can help!

*Supporter shares are a donation and will not result in a financial return or legal ownership of a property or service. Supporter shares are not tradeable or sellable.