Family and Friends Forum

I'm sorry I dont know what the horizon course is. Hopefully he will get some information soon about when the course runs and what hours. I think he should avoid missing any and may even be advised he isn't allowed to miss any without a very good reason if this was something imposed by the courts. Hopefully someone else may be able to help with your questions.

Hi Jono. There is some information on Google about the course. You can download a leaflet off the prison reform service. Shout if you can't find it.

Usually with courses they are scheduled to be accessible. If it is a court ordered course there will be one ay a suitable time. With my husbands there were 2 running at a time, one in the early afternoon and another in the evening.

Usually with a course you can only take time off it is absolutely unavoidable. Time off will only lengthen the time he has to attend. I have heard of one having to repeat the whole course as he fell too far behind.

My husband has been told to attend one of these as part of his community order however the order doesnt actually list his requirements so I'm wondering if he has anything else required to do. His is a 31 week course, 2 hours each week

My husband is 3/4 way through a 31 week Horizon course. He says it is ok, but he had covered most of the material in his own reading and therapy before he attended. It would be much better to offer this kind of course soon after arrest, which folk could take up if they wanted to. That would go some way to helping offenders and families through the horrible period of limbo after the initial arrest!

Jess, I totally agree. The problem I have found now being almost 11 months down the line and still waiting for second court appearance to happen is that there is such a focus on things not happening until the individual has been charged - so in my case although my ex admitted his offence to the police and subsequently to me when they brought him back to the house, until they had investigated the devices they took, written all their findings and then passed everything to CPS to then process before court, he was still considered simply under investigation. Likewise SS whilst a heavy force in this all still up until charge sheet came out were from the viewpoint of well we don’t know what he is getting charged with and pointed out that only after that would there be familial support through the public protection officer. Everything just takes so long!!!