Simon had spent much of his life in and out of prison, following the path his father had shown him from a young age. Crime was all Simon had ever known, and for years, he saw little reason to change. However, everything shifted when his children began having children of their own. The thought of being absent from his grandchildren’s lives, as his own father had been for him, made Simon determined to break the cycle. Still, with deeply entrenched behaviors and fractured family relationships, he knew the journey would not be easy. While Simon was still in prison, his support worker referred him to our Life-Changer Mentoring Programme.

Through the programme, Simon was paired with a mentor experienced in working with individuals who had complex life histories. They helped Simon explore the root causes of his behaviours, acknowledging the influence of his upbringing while encouraging accountability for his actions. Together, they worked on developing and sustaining new and healthier habits, while repairing relationships with his family.

His mentor also supported Simon in developing communication skills to rebuild trust with his children and start to make amends. Over time, Simon began to reconnect with his family and embrace his role as a father and as a grandfather. Nine months after his release, Simon had made significant progress, demonstrating that it’s never too late to change.

Good luck Simon!