Our work
The StandOut programme
Leaving prison isn't easy. People are often held back by not having the confidence, resilience, skills, or opportunities to thrive. It's why we offer open-ended support for people that bridges the transition between prison and the community.
Each journey is individual, and StandOut provides one-to-one coaching and support. Supportive and reliable relationships are key to someone’s success. For the people we work with, our coaches become trusted partners who help them navigate the challenges of life after prison.
In prison
Our programme starts with an intensive 12-day course in prison that combines group work with individual sessions. This enables coaches to get to know each person, their needs, and their hopes for the future.
Coaches create a safe and non-judgemental space where people can discover who they are and what they can achieve. During the course, participants develop a relationship with StandOut, which forms the foundations of our work with them after prison.
The solution is not as simple as finding a job. The key to lasting change is long-term individual support that gives people the tools to transform their lives by recognising their strengths and realising their potential.
The course includes
Developing positive mindsets and new ways of thinking.
Recognising trauma and building the resilience needed to handle setbacks.
Developing key essential skills in communication and team work.
Visits from employers with positive attitudes towards people with experience of the criminal justice system.
Volunteer-led CV writing and mock interview workshops.
Building confidence, motivation and self-esteem.
After the course, coaches continue to offer one-to-one practical support and work with people to plan for life and work beyond release. This work is often carried out in collaboration with other support services specialising in housing and substance recovery.
In the community
The hard work really starts when people leave prison. Contrary to what many think, release from prison isn’t always an exciting prospect for people. There is often a great deal of uncertainty about the first days and weeks, and very few people are ‘ready’ for work straight from prison. Journeys don’t always go in a straight line and navigating life after prison takes a huge amount of courage and resilience.
The StandOut community coaching team and StandOut prison coaches work together to provide one-to-one support, tailored to each person’s needs, mindset, and future plans. The support given can often focus on education, training, or employment. However, housing, recovery from alcohol and substances, issues with family, and difficulties with mental health are all challenges people we work with can face. Coaches support people through these challenges to achieve the stability needed to move forward.
Life after prison is complicated and there is rarely a quick fix. StandOut’s open-ended support is there for people, through the ups and downs - and our door is always open.
Our monthly career hub is a space where people can explore education, training and employment, meet employers and access one to one support from our community coaches.
Our advisory group, Experts Beyond Bars (EBB) meets monthly to discuss criminal justice issues and keep our work grounded in the realities of life after prison.
StandOut Stories
Ahmed
“When I left prison, I thought I would get a job in IT and tech really quickly - but it took almost three years. It takes time to assimilate back into society. You may not be exactly where you want to be, but look how far you’ve come. It’s progress, and that’s what you should aim for - progress”.