Nacro is a national social justicecharity operating in England and Wales. It is not formally linked with Sacro in Scotland or NIACRO in Northern Ireland.
Nacro helps vulnerable people to change their lives and to reach their full potential by addressing social exclusion, inequality of opportunity and deprivation. It designs and delivers services that equip people with the skills, advice, attitude and support they need to move their lives on and to become a part of their community. Nacro's services cover education, housing, substance misuse treatment and the prevention of reoffending.
The Central Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society (Incorporated) was formed in December 1924. It was renamed the National Association of Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies (Incorporated) in October 1960, and the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) in March 1966. It developed into the biggest criminal justice-related charity in England and Wales and in the 1970s and 1980s it became involved in policy discussions with the British Government, particularly with the Home Office, which has responsibility for prisons and probation services. Since 2011, its strategy has focused on extending its high-level influence at government level, with commissioners, policy makers and practitioners, and increasing its partnership work.
In 1999 the organisation officially became Nacro, the crime reduction charity. In 2015, in conjunction with Nacro's 50th anniversary year and to reflect the breadth of its work, it changed its name to Nacro: A social justice charity.
Nacro's services include:
Nacro also uses its knowledge of what works to reduce crime to help inform policy and shape practice. In line with this, the charity works closely with government and public and private sector partners, using experience on the ground to establish and pilot the best ways of addressing social exclusion.
Nacro is a regular contributor to government consultations and important debates on key subjects in the criminal justice sector.
In 2015 it emerged that Totton College in Southampton was in serious financial difficulties and was seeking a merger with another institution. In December 2015 Totton College became part of Nacro, with the aim of making Totton College a vocational centre of excellence. The college is currently headed by Derek Headrige, the Campus Principal.