The Portal Programme 

'For Drug Awareness & Lifestyle Changes'

Who is the Portal Programme for?

The programme is open to people who fulfil any of the following criterion:

• Abstinent from non-medical use of drugs for a minimum of three months
• Interested in accessing further/higher education opportunities
• Interested in entering or re-entering the employment market
• Committed to achieve and maintain positive life changes
• Leaving community based/residential treatment programmes (including those not CJS related)
• Due to leave or recently left a custodial institution
• Due to leave or completed a community sentence.

Why was the service set up?

The service was set up to provide an opportunity for adults who want a 'second chance' at education, and want to acquire new qualifications and life skills.

Where is the service running?

SMART runs the service in partnership with Amersham & Wycombe College, Milton Keynes College and Oxford Cherwell Valley College (OCVC). The Portal Programme is taught at the campuses by qualified college tutors and SMART staff. All students on the course have access to college facilities.

How it operates:

The Portal Programme lasts 12 weeks and runs one day a week. To join the course, individuals need to complete an application form and attend an interview. Whilsts students are required to give 100% commitment, and complete homework, support is offered from the course co-ordinator and SMART mentors throughout the programme. Each intake of students complete 8 modules in subjects which have practical and vocational qualities.

The Portal Programme can be seen as a precursor to the Mentoring programme, where people train to become volunteer mentors in the drugs sector. However many students use the course as a springboard to further education or re-entry into the job market.  

Benefits:

The Portal Programme helps students on the course in a number of ways:

• support with future educational needs and advice on the wider education network
• advice on long-term employment needs and entry into the SMART Mentoring programme, if appropriate
• formulation of a long-term action plan in readiness of completion of the Portal Programme
• support to anyone who is on a maintenance prescription, and additional support if a lapse or relapse occurs.