Supporting the Supporters: addressing the psychosocial challenges of third-sector workers supporting criminal justice involved women and girls

Introduction
In the UK, third-sector organisations have long supported, campaigned and advocated for the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded individuals and communities in society, including those in contact with the criminal justice system.1 In recent years, there has been a growing reliance upon this sector to address unmet social care and welfare needs, which has taken place in response to the contraction and shrinking of the welfare state. The organisations that make up this sector — including voluntary, community, social enterprises and co-operatives — whilst neither public nor private sector, have increasingly been contracted to provide public services.2 Paradoxically, whilst governmental dependence upon and outsourcing to the third-sector has expanded, the reliability and adequacy of funding and support available has diminished.