In
1977 with the help of financing from the Manpower Services Commission (now known
as Jobcentre Plus), an advisory service (later to become the
Manchester Education Centre) was set up to offer support to prisoners, from the
North West of England, who wished to continue their education upon
release from prison. It soon became apparent to the staff that access to
educational opportunities was severely limited at the time. As a result
discussions with Fielden Park College (now part of City College Manchester) an
Education Day Centre was opened - one day each week, in the British
Council Building - for offenders who would not use 'normal' college provision.
In
1978 support from the Manchester City Council, (via the Urban Programme) and
from various local colleges, made it possible for an Education
Project to be established in its own premises in the centre of Manchester and
for it to operate five days per week. By the mid-1980's, in addition to 21courses available to students, an Education Information Advisory Service reached
some 500 prisoners in the North West.
The funding crisis suffered by Manchester in the late 1980's impacted on
many voluntary sector projects, the Manchester Education Centre proved to be
no exception. The reorganisation of the Urban Programme by successive
governments, the introduction of the Unified Business Rate and the change by
colleges to Local Management with resultant changes in the Adult Basic Education
provision all had a detrimental effect upon the funding of the Manchester
Education Centre.
The City was unable to fund the Centre at the level of previous years and for a
period of three years the number of courses on offer were gradually reduced as were the number of full time and part time staff.
In
addition to the difficulties encountered with funding, NACRO (National
Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders) the managing agent of
the
Education Centre underwent a reorganisation, which resulted in a change of
emphasis in priorities. As a consequence of these changes the staff at the
Centre
were given the option of trying to pursue an independent existence. The three
remaining staff David Haley, Malcolm Craven and Linda Brett-Smith, took up the
challenge and in June 1992 a new independent company, limited by guarantee and
with charitable status, was formed to manage and develop the work of the
Manchester Education Centre.
The new company and charity was given the name "NEARIS" - Northern Education and
Resettlement Information Services. NEARIS has a Management
Committee with representatives from Manchester Lifelong Learning, City College,
MANCAT (Manchester College of Arts and Technology), Manchester City
Council, and other invited organisations. NEARIS now manages a number of
education centres including Manchester known as MERC and Bolton and Oldham. In
addition NEARIS works with a number of other agencies and manages
education provision on their premises.
