The Linkage Service

Overview
In 2000, The Linkage Service was initially set up as a pilot scheme and was funded by the Probation Service under the National Development Plan. The aim was to prepare, plan, and implement Training and/or Employment placement for offenders referred to the programme by the Probation Service. In September 2000 The Linkage Service became a joint project between Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and the Probation Service with support from IBEC, the Small Firms Association and ICTU.

Key to the ethos of the Service is the client. Research had clearly established that the vast majority of offenders come from the most marginalised, excluded and under resourced communities in society. The Linkage Service's clients are likely to have been subjected to unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse, loneliness, homelessness, family breakdown or stigmatisation because of public attitudes to offenders. Therefore providing an innovative training and employment service is vital for helping ex-offenders find a new direction.
During the past six years, over 5,000 ex-offenders have been referred to The Linkage Service by the Probation Service. Of those referrals almost 70% actively engaged with the programme resulting in 70% of the clients being placed in training, employment or education.

Click here to listen to Paddy Richardson, Linkage Programme Manager, speak about the Service and the benefits for former offenders and for businesses who get involved, as well as why employers should hire former offenders.

Click here to listen to Simon Baker, Linkage client; Ray O'Halloran, Director, Speedline Engineering and Linkage employer; and Paddy Richardson, Linkage Service Manager speak with Matt Cooper on TodayFM's Last Word.





The Probation Service
A critical factor in the success of The Linkage Service is the strategic partnership between the Probation Service and BITCI. The Probation Service, under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in our communities.

Our Staff
Since 2000, the Service has grown from three to 16 Training & Employment Officers (TEOs) based around the country, with a full time Manager, a part-time Administration Coordinator, part-time Administrative Assistant and a part-time Administrative Assistant / IT Support. The ultimate objective of the TEO is to assist the client's integration or re-integration into the working community.

Please click here for a contact list of Training & Employment Officers around Ireland.

Employers
The ultimate objective of the Linkage Service is to get people working. Critical to the success of the project is matching the people to the job market. Training and Employment Officers are employed by BITCI to support the Probation Service by placing offenders in employment, training and/or education. To date, there has been an enthusiastic response to the Service. Of course, it is only natural for employers to have some questions about the Service.

Please click here to read our responses to frequently asked questions from employers.

Employers can also click here to download a fact sheet on all our employment programmes including Linkage.

If you are an employer and would like to discuss our employment initiatives, please contact Moira Horgan, Marketing Manager on mhorgan@bitc.ie or 01 874 7232.

For further information on The Linkage Service, please contact 01 874 7232 or linkage@bitc.ie