Oliver met us at a jobs fair while serving a prison sentence. He explained to us that he had been caught stealing multiple times, crimes he committed out of desperation to feed his young family. Struggling with low-paying jobs and mounting bills, he was desperate and saw theft as the only way to provide for his wife and children. Oliver’s actions led to multiple arrests, court hearings and finally, prison.

Through the Life-Changer Mentoring Programme, Oliver was paired with a mentor, someone with experience in family support and financial management. They listened to Oliver’s story without judgment, offering him emotional support and understanding. They also helped him realize that his actions, while driven by a need to provide, were harming his family more than helping.

Together, they worked with Oliver to explore alternative ways to support his family, including budgeting, job training, and accessing community resources. They also focused on rebuilding his self-esteem and creating a plan to find stable, legal work.

Within six months, Oliver found a steady job in a warehouse, and his family’s financial situation began to improve. His relationship with his wife became stronger, and he no longer saw crime as an option to meet his family’s needs.

We are proud to have been able to help Oliver.