Words by Smiley Team
Leaving prison can be a tough transition to make, but one charity is helping 18- to 30-year-old offenders make real, long-lasting change after their release.
Switchback’s ambition is that everyone has the opportunity to live a stable and rewarding life as an active member of society. Their purpose is to enable young men to find a way out of the justice system and build a stable life they can be proud of.
The charity was set up because the reoffending rate has barely reduced in decades, with 48% of prison-leavers reconvicting within a year, and fewer than a fifth moving into work.
Young adults and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, who make up the majority of Switchback trainees, are also significantly over-represented in the prison system.
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Homelessness, mental health problems and low skills are just some of the barriers faced by people leaving prison. Many have grown up in poverty or in care, have never worked legitimately and have experienced violence and trauma.
Among the recent Switchback trainees, 53% have drug or alcohol issues, 43% leave prison homeless, 40% have never worked before, and 37% have no qualifications.
Switchback’s model was established in 2008 on the premise that it's often not the lack of opportunity, but rather a lack of confidence, knowledge and continuity of support that prevents prison-leavers from overcoming challenges and realising their options.
When working with trainees, Switchback models stability amid the chaos. Through a consistent, long-term relationship and real work training, they enable Switchback trainees to make a profound change in how they think about and participate in society.
(Read more about the prison inmate fundraising for homeless people)
Switchback Trainee Ahmed said: “People only do what they know, and that depends where you grow up. To me, I knew how to sell drugs. In my community it’s just normal to do crime. Switchback taught me and pushed me so much. I’ve learned to forget about crime. I’ve been shown a different route."
Switchback’s donors are the reason they are able to help more than 500 young men each year on their journey out of the justice system. You can make a donation on their website.
