Frederic Rainer

In 1876 another root of Catch22 began.

Frederic Rainer, a journeyman printer, and a volunteer with the Church of England Temperance Society wrote to the Society of his concern about the lack of hope and help for those who come before the courts.

'...offence after offence and sentence after sentence appear to be the inevitable lot of him whose foot has once slipped. Can nothing be done to arrest the downward career?'
Frederic Rainer.

He sent a donation of five shillings (about £20) towards a fund for ‘practical rescue work’ in the police courts. A ‘missionary’ was appointed to the Southwark Court and from there developed into the London Police Court Mission (LPCM). By the turn of the century eight full time LPCM missionaries were in place.

Volunteers helped in the work and even met released prisoners taking them home so they had a chance of not moving back into a life of crime. The practical work to prevent reoffending had branched out into the running of homes and hostels and shelters providing vocational training. A decent home and a job were seen as the best way to change behaviour, certainly more effective than prison.

Volunteering continues to play a major part in the work done by Catch22.