For more than twenty years, Changing Lanes Foundation has been supporting the social reintegration of people leaving prison. Throughout this time, the Foundation has developed and delivered a wide range of programmes that address the complex challenges of rebuilding life after incarceration.
To ensure a holistic approach, the support delivered by Changing Lanes Foundation has included vocational training in prisons, soft skills development, art therapy programmes, environmental education, a drop-in support centre and a halfway housing programme.
Over two decades of experience have shown that finding and keeping employment is one of the greatest challenges for people with a history of conviction. Many individuals struggle with long-term unemployment, low levels of education, limited digital skills, and unstable living conditions after release. At the same time, repeated failure and stigma often undermine their confidence and motivation, creating additional barriers to successful reintegration.
Building on this experience, Changing Lanes Foundation has developed a pilot programme that goes far beyond traditional job-search training. Conventional employment programmes typically focus on practical skills such as writing CVs, searching for vacancies, or preparing for interviews. While these are valuable, they are rarely sufficient for people facing multiple disadvantages after imprisonment.
Sustainable employment depends just as much on self-confidence, effective communication, emotional resilience, and the ability to build positive workplace relationships. For this reason, the Foundation's programme combines labour market preparation with personal development and life-management skills.
Participants not only learn the practical aspects of job seeking but also have the opportunity to recognise their strengths and abilities, rebuild self-confidence and reflect on and learn from past experiences.
The programme also places strong emphasis on the skills needed to maintain employment, not just secure it. Experience consistently shows that keeping a job can be more challenging than finding one. Therefore, participants develop competencies in workplace communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, adapting to organisational rules, and problem-solving—skills that are essential for long-term success.
The pilot programme will begin with a 50-hour group training course delivered within the prison. Alongside the group sessions, participants can receive individual support tailored to their specific needs. This preparation continues after release through personalised job coaching, ensuring that participants are not left to navigate the transition alone.
The first months after release are often the most difficult. Many people must cope simultaneously with housing insecurity, financial hardship, rebuilding family relationships, and administrative responsibilities, all while trying to find stable employment. The Foundation's experience demonstrates that personalised, one-to-one support during this critical transition significantly increases the chances of securing and sustaining employment. Dedicated staff will help participants overcome practical barriers, connect with employers, and develop the confidence and stability needed for long-term labour market integration.
Thumbnail photo credit: MAK, Unsplash
