Switchback’s 2025 Annual Report

This year was another challenging one for the justice system. Record prison overcrowding and rising recall rates meant our work supporting young Londoners leaving prison to build stable, rewarding lives was more important than ever. I’m proud to say that, together with our partners, supporters and Trainees, we rose to that challenge.

In 2025, we supported more young people than at any point in our 17-year history, while continuing to deliver the high-quality, relational support that makes our model so effective. Nine out of ten Switchback Trainees did not reoffend in the 12 months following their release – demonstrating that with the right relationships, opportunities and support, lasting change is possible.

Alongside our frontline work, we amplified the voices of people with lived experience to make the case for a better justice system. Our Recall Reform research and campaigning highlighted the damaging impact of the current recall system and showed how policy shaped by lived experience can help create safer communities and better futures.

As we prepare to launch our next strategic plan, we are looking ahead with ambition. We want to reach even more young Londoners, share our proven approach with organisations across the UK, and work alongside prison-experienced people to build the evidence for a more holistic, relational model of resettlement – one that reduces reoffending and enables people leaving prison to make a positive contribution to society.

None of this would be possible without the generosity, commitment and belief of our funders, partners, volunteers and supporters. Thank you for standing with us. We hope this report gives you a sense of what we’ve achieved together – and of what’s possible in the years ahead.

If, after reading our report, you’d like to explore how we could work together, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at office@switchback.org.uk.