From December 3rd to the 10th Switchback will be ‘painting a different picture of prison release’. For this appeal we have collaborated with London artist, Fran Copeman, and we will be sharing with you some of the first-hand stories and experiences of four inspiring Trainees. Each individual and their personal story will highlight how your support will directly help our Trainees to thrive on the outside and build a life full of positive opportunities. During Big Give week all donations will be match-funded, making them worth double until we hit our target of £40,000. Please consider a donation today.
“I met Switchback six years ago when I was in prison and ended up going full circle and working as a Switchback Mentor for three years. When Switchback approached me in prison I didn’t really have a solid plan for release. I didn’t have any other support from any organisations so I thought why not give it a go. My Switchback Mentor worked with me to build a plan. She told me about the support and opportunities that Switchback offer and I was up for it. On my release, I got in contact with my Mentor and we began working towards some goals.”
“She would support me emotionally, mentally and practically. She helped me get involved with one of the training partners we used to work with called Crisis Café – shout out them. That’s where I met Charlie. I did 6 weeks training in the kitchen there and I really enjoyed it. Something to get straight into. Once you’re released from prison there’s a lot going on. It’s good to have a routine and structure. Alongside that I would meet my Switchback Mentor every week and go through our action plan.”
“One of the things I found most helpful from Switchback on release was the consistent support coming from a person who isn’t judgemental and they’re by your side. There’s a lot of ups and downs coming out and having someone on your side to support you is really valuable.”
“After coming out and completing the 12-week programme, I moved on from Switchback as a Trainee but I stayed in touch. I used to come to Experts by Experience (EBE) meetings and different experiences that were on offer. There was a couple of years between me leaving as a Trainee and coming back as a Mentor where I did things like getting a personal training qualification and working as a labourer. About three years since being a Trainee, I came in for a catch up with the former Head of Delivery, Monique, and I put it to her “are there any jobs going at Switchback?”
“Monique came back a couple months later with an internship plan where I did a 12-week internship with Switchback. It went really well and after the 12 weeks they offered me a Junior Switchback Mentor position.”
“As a Switchback Mentor your day to day can look very different. The main thing is that we support people with whatever support they need that can range across our pathways. Which could be advocating for their housing, supporting them going down to local councils, taking them down to one of our training partners such as The Dusty Knuckle or XO Bikes or it could even be something they want to get into themselves. Basically giving them that support and being someone to keep them accountable for what they say they want to do. It’s a two way street, you have to want the change and Switchback are here to kind of facilitate and encourage your personal growth.”
“The biggest obstacles that people leaving prison face is probably the lack of support from the system. The government doesn’t make it easy for people being released from prison. They face challenges with housing, some people are released into temporary accommodation. Probation and prison is so overworked and overstretched that people aren’t given the support that they need to make the changes and not end up back in prison which is why Switchback does what it does.”
“Some of my biggest achievements have been seeing people’s individual journeys and what they achieve. There have also been some amazing personal moments for me. Alice, the founder and then CEO put me forward for an award for the Girdlers Foundation to recognise my pioneering spirit which is one of Switchback’s five values and it was nice to get some recognition. I took my mum and it was such a proud moment for me. Another one of my biggest achievements at Switchback was being part of our Time & Again Podcast which won gold at The Great British Podcast Awards 2023. It was a great piece of work which relayed peoples stories who had experience in prison in a new light. We really got into their journey and what they’ve been getting up to since being released. The guys that were on the podcast were supported by Switchback so that was a big achievement for us.”
“Next for me is a role in a London Council where I’ll be supporting people facing multiple disadvantages. I feel like it’s the right next step for me taking all my experience and knowledge that I’ve gained from Switchback and take that to the council and try and shape their practice and services that they’re going to be offering. I’ll definitely take a lot of the values and learning from Switchback and try and implement that there and create a good holistic service from the council. It’s bittersweet. I’m going to miss Switchback as it’s been a long journey but I don’t feel like this will be the end but it’s going to be a new chapter and a new challenge for me to face.”
“I want to show people that Switchback really do support people for as long as it takes even after completing the programme. There’s always opportunities and the door is always open if you want to come back and pursue something. Or even if you’ve got an idea, don’t be scared to bring it to Switchback. It’s a place where we bring ideas to life and take what everyone has to say. There’s no such thing as a stupid idea and anything is possible.”
Please click this link to support more young men, like Kam, to live life differently and thrive today.
