Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS)

Overview

The LSC assumed responsibility for the planning and funding of Offenders in the Community in April 2004 in Partnership with the National Probation Service (NPS). The Partnership between the NPS and LSC brings together the expertise of both organisations and will enable the creation of a greater range of educational opportunities for offenders in the community, including many delivered in mainstream settings.

Exposure to such opportunities will, it is envisaged, encourage offenders to explore further educational provision as well as vocational programmes. 

Offenders in the Community incorporates the delivery of Skills for Life provision for offenders under the statutory supervision of the National Probation Service, including all community sentences and those released on licence from prison.

The Service

The new, integrated Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) seeks to bring cohesion to education and training delivered to offenders in custody and in the community. The LSC becomes responsible, in three Development Regions, the North, the East, North West and South West, for planning and funding all education provision delivered to offenders in custody and in the community from 1 August 2005.