Catch22

🤝Real voices, real results: co-designing better justice services🤝 To truly make a difference in the justice system, we must listen to those who know it best. Through our co-design sessions, people with lived experience of prison and probation collaborate with our frontline teams, service designers, and partners to shape how services are built and delivered. These conversations are open, honest, and often transformative, challenging assumptions and sparking new ideas about what really helps people move forward. One area where this approach has been especially powerful is in designing our Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). By bringing together diverse voices, we’ve created services that are not only more effective, but more attuned to the human experience of the criminal justice system and receiving support. 🎥 In the video, hear from some of those involved in our CRS co-design sessions; what the experience meant to them, and why putting lived experience at the heart of service design is essential.

An important part of our work at Catch22 involves embedding ourselves in the local communities we serve, because we know that real support starts with real relationships. One team that’s had a busy summer doing just that is Victim First in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). 🌍 The team attended the Leicestershire Police Intercultural Event, where communities across LLR came together to celebrate culture, unity and shared goals (and, of course, some great food and dancing!). 🏳️🌈 They also joined thousands at Leicester Pride, celebrating our LGBTQ+ communities and sharing the support that we offer. Being present in our communities helps us understand people’s needs, connect with local organisations, and work together to create safer, more supportive places to live. Events like these are about visibility, but also listening, learning, and strengthening the local networks that make our support possible. We’re looking forward to continuing to connect, collaborate and celebrate with the communities we’re proud to serve. 🤝

🧠 World Mental Health Day 🧠 At Catch22, our Drawing the Line campaign to end violence and exploitation for children and young people calls for change. One of our key asks is for better, more specialist victim support, including accessible, trauma-informed mental health aftercare for every young person who is a victim of violence or exploitation. Because the truth is, recovery doesn’t end when a young person leaves hospital. For many, that’s when the hardest part begins. The evidence is clear: 📊 55% of young people re-admitted to A&E after Redthread support come back not because of further violence, but due to acute mental health difficulties. 📊 Over 80% have experienced or witnessed violence before - often both inside and outside the home. 📊 56% already live with PTSD, anxiety or depression when they first arrive in hospital. Behind each statistic is a young person trying to make sense of trauma, often without the right support. Without consistent mental health aftercare, we risk trapping them in a cycle of harm, where violence leads to trauma, and trauma leads back to violence. At Catch22, we’re working to change that. Through our national County Lines Support and Rescue service, we help young people who have been criminally exploited to find safety, rebuild trust, and recover. As part of this, we’ve developed mental health and wellbeing workbooks; practical tools designed to help young people process trauma, manage stress, and understand that recovery is possible. But we know that individual effort isn’t enough and more needs to be done. To truly break the cycle, there must be specialist, trauma-informed mental health offer for every young person affected by violence and exploitation, one that bridges the gap between emergency care and long-term recovery. This World Mental Health Day, join us in Drawing the Line. Let’s make sure no young person faces recovery alone. 👉 Learn more about our campaign: https://ow.ly/uJum50X9MJ4 #WorldMentalHealthDay #DrawingTheLine #YouthMentalHealth

🌎 Today is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme “access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies” highlights the importance of accessible mental health support during times of crisis and uncertainty. At Catch22, our staff deliver meaningful work that can sometimes come with emotional demands - especially when the world around us feels unstable. That’s why we’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of our colleagues every day. We take a holistic approach, offering: ✅ An Employee Assistance Programme with counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and more ✅ A dedicated wellbeing app to access support with ease ✅ Physical health support via GP on-call services ✅ Financial wellbeing tools through our rewards hub ✅ Opportunities to connect beyond teams and build a strong sense of belonging Sometimes it’s the little things, a helpful resource, a meaningful chat, or a small win that can make all the difference. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, we’re reminding our teams of the support available and encouraging everyone to check in on one another.

🎙️ New episode of Experts by Experience 🚨 In this episode, Nic D. speaks with Daniel Cunningham, Restorative Justice Lead at Victim First. Daniel shares his journey into restorative justice and offers a powerful look at how this approach works in practice. From what the process involves to the benefits – and challenges – for both victims and those who’ve caused harm, he breaks down what it really means to pursue healing after crime. Drawing on real cases, Daniel explores how safe, structured conversations between victims and perpetrators can lead to understanding, accountability, and even closure. 🎧 Listen now: 🟢 https://ow.ly/l06O50X914v 🟣 https://ow.ly/2Ewm50X914t 🔴 https://ow.ly/KF6Y50X914s

🤝 Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with the new Minister for Crime and Policing, Sarah Jones MP, during her visit to Merseyside Police to learn more about how the UK Home Office, police and voluntary sector are working together to tackle criminal exploitation and county lines activity.   Our Merseyside County Lines Support and Rescue Service joined colleagues from across policing and shared how Catch22 supports children and young people exploited through county lines - both locally and across the UK.   We were also joined by one of our specialist girls and young women workers, who highlighted the specific and often hidden experiences of girls affected by exploitation, and the importance of providing gender-informed, trauma-responsive support. We shared real stories from the young people we support, showing how early intervention, trusted relationships, and partnership working have helped them find safety, stability, and hope for the future. These stories brought to life the power of collaboration between police, youth workers, and wider services in creating positive outcomes for young people at risk. We also presented our Drawing the Line campaign, calling for: 🔹 Better safeguarding so exploited children are seen and treated as victims, not criminals. 🔹 Tailored support for girls and young women, recognising their specific and often hidden experiences of exploitation. 🔹 Proper mental health aftercare for young victims of violence and exploitation, to help break cycles of harm. We were encouraged to see the strong partnership between the police and voluntary sector showcased throughout the visit, with shared commitment to protecting young people and providing real routes away from exploitation. We look forward to continuing to work with Minister Sarah Jones, the Home Office, and partners nationally to Draw the Line on the exploitation of children and young people. #DrawingTheLine #ChildCriminalExploitation #CountyLines

💫 We need to start getting things done -  to move from talk and policy to partnership and action. That was very much the consensus at our ‘Drawing the line: Preventing violence and exploitation impacting children’ roundtable discussion at the Conservative Party Conference today.    Expertly chaired by Jonathan Hopkins, Andy Canniford (Catch22) opened by welcoming the government’s focus on tackling violence and exploitation — but stressed that much more needs to be done, inviting reflections from experts in the children and young people sector on how we can: ➡️ Shift fragmented government policy to better aligned approaches  ➡️ Support child victims to break cycles violence and exploitation   ➡️ Achieve effective collaboration at local and regional level Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, gave a powerful lead contribution on prevention — highlighting the importance of place, early intervention, family support, and recognising social media as a risk factor.   Contributors included Rt Hon Dame Maria Miller, Leigh Middleton OBE (National Youth Agency), Mark Russell (The Children's Society), Dr Amy Ludlow (SHiFT), Helen Berresford (Nacro), Claire Hubberstey (One Small Thing), Kimberley Thomas (Fuse Youth Services), Richard Short (National Police Chiefs' Council Hydrant),and Dan Whitehouse, MSc, Cert CII.   Three golden threads emerged in the discussion:   📍 Place – Tune into the communities where children are most at risk. Proper investment in youth work, trusted adults, and maximising local assets are key. We also need to share what works locally and scale it effectively.   🧑🏫 Education – Children’s Commissioner for England research shows that 20% of children with a prison history had attended six or more schools. With budgets for external support also under pressure, inclusive education, holistic specialist services, and high-quality alternative provision are critical.   🤝 Joined-up approaches – Fragmentation within and between national and local systems leads to inefficiencies and even inaction. We need a national strategy for childhood to help to drive change, join up policy and services, and shift funding from expensive crisis responses to early help. Tackling child poverty and strengthening social care must also be part of the solution.   Those around the table agreed: we know what works. Now we need political will — and action – to draw the line on violence and exploitation.     These points echo our #DrawingTheLine campaign: https://lnkd.in/eqv3hAWq    Thank you to Citadel Policy and Communications for their brilliant work on the #YouthZoneAndSkillsHub — and to all participants for sharing their insights.   We look forward to continuing the conversation — and getting things done.   #DrawingTheLine #CPC25 #YouthSector 

🙋 Are you driven by the desire to create positive change in your community? At Catch22, we're on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our team and help us make a difference. Whether you're seeking a job or placement, we offer a variety of opportunities to grow your career while contributing to meaningful work. 👉 Find out more about our current vacancies here: https://lnkd.in/eagCay-7

🎉 Congratulations to sue finn, winner of the IEP Mentor of the Year Award!   We’re proud to celebrate Sue Finn, one of our outstanding Catch22 career coaches, who has been recognised by the The Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP) for her exceptional commitment, empathy, and professionalism.   As a career coach on the Energise employability programme, Sue has supported over 300 participants, helping more than 100 individuals into paid employment. Her holistic, participant-first approach and unwavering commitment make her a truly deserving winner of this award.   Here’s what one Energise participant had to say about working with Sue:   “Sue’s kind nature, patience, and consistent willingness to assist have made a significant difference in my learning journey. Her approachable manner and reassuring guidance created a positive and encouraging environment, which I deeply appreciated. Whether it was her helpful advice or the clarity with which she explained things, Sue ensured that every step of the course felt manageable and enjoyable.” Sue is part of a passionate team delivering Energise. Deliver in partnership with Shell UK , the programme supports individuals not in employment, education, or training (NEET) into lasting careers in the energy transition sector. By focusing on breaking down barriers, building confidence, and providing tailored, long-term support, Energise is helping participants unlock their full potential.   Learn more about Energise: https://lnkd.in/e3YXXv6s

⚽ In September our Suffolk Positive Futures programme was pleased to welcome Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore to a local football session in Felixstowe. During the visit he met with our coaches to hear first-hand how Positive Futures is engaging young people through sport and building stronger, safer communities. Suffolk Positive Futures is a youth engagement programme that uses sport and physical activity to support young people across Suffolk. By offering free, accessible sessions in local communities, the programme helps young people build confidence, develop life skills, and make positive choices. Read more about the visit: https://lnkd.in/eiamjRCW Learn more about Suffolk Positive Futures: https://lnkd.in/e96XV5cX