Mike Pattinson, Director of Operations

Mike’s career in social care stretches back 25 years. Prior to joining CRI in 1999 he worked in the probation service and in residential services for offenders and substance misusers.

His experience has led him to be a strong advocate of supporting short-term prisoners, extending mentoring support and working to reduce re-offending rates within our communities. With CRI, Mike has worked with offenders and service users to help them become part of our communities and enhance their social capital and opportunities, while continuing to hold them to account for their behaviour and its impact on those same communities.

“My interest in social care, justice and policy was aroused during the early 1980s and I moved to Brighton in 1985 to study a degree in humanities, the first member of my family to take education beyond 18.

“I then spent three years as a probation officer where I was the substance liaison lead officer, in addition to the usual duties, I delivered intensive group work programmes.

“This experience was both enjoyable and invaluable, but I knew that I wanted to try and make a bigger and more tangible difference to service users and our community than I felt able to do within the confines of a more statutory service, so I joined SARO in February 1999 as a team leader for ‘Get It while You Can’.

“The period since 1999 has been an amazing journey as I have worked with CRI to help it grow from a small Sussex-based charity into one of the most successful organisations in the UK. I count myself lucky that I continue to be surrounded by colleagues, staff and service users who both challenge and inspire me. During my time with CRI, I have attained an MBA through the Open University.

“My passion remains as strong today as it did when I first joined SARO. We have always designed and delivered services that help to create safer and more vibrant communities whilst enabling individuals to lead healthier and crime-free lives. The opportunities to apply these same priinciples more widely within the community for criminal justice clients is one that we relish.”