ThinkForward

ThinkForward’s “Effective Transitions for Children at Feltham YOI” project was supported through a grant from the Company to develop an evidence-based programme supporting young people leaving custody and moving into education, employment and training. Building on the original proposal to combine coaching, co-production and system mapping, ThinkForward worked closely with the Youth Custody Service, prison staff, Youth Offending Teams and partner organisations to better understand the barriers facing children and young people resettling into the community from Feltham Young Offenders Institution. The project involved extensive stakeholder engagement, system mapping and research, alongside direct co-production sessions with young people in custody.

Despite significant operational challenges within the prison system and delays caused by a lengthy National Research Committee approval process, ThinkForward successfully engaged 25 young people through 18 coaching and co-production sessions and consulted with 19 practitioners working across the youth justice sector. The findings highlighted the importance of trusted adult relationships, consistent mentoring, practical support and meaningful education and employment pathways in reducing reoffending and improving outcomes after release. The discovery phase has now informed the development of a future programme blueprint and theory of change, with further fundraising planned to support delivery of the next phase of work.

The aim and objectives of the work delivered by Think Forward are truly impressive, providing young people with valuable opportunities to develop new skills and confidence upon release. The organisation and staff commitment to supporting positive futures is evident in the way they engage, motivate, and empower the children they work with. - Gurpreet

At ThinkForward, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity and agency to shape their own future. We are deeply grateful for your support, which enabled us to work alongside those too often overlooked and underserved. Our time in Feltham has only reinforced the urgent need for this work. The young people we met had shown resilience, insight, and determination, yet many are navigating systems that fail to recognise or nurture their potential. Co-production is at the heart of our approach. We build with young people, not for them, particularly young people most impacted by their circumstances. By creating space for their voices and lived experiences, we support young people to recognise their own agency and capacity for change. As one young person shared, “I need more opportunities and more chances just to make myself better.” Another told us, “I miss freedom too much to not change.” These reflections speak to both the barriers they face and the strength of their ambition. With support from Weavers’ this allowed us to amplify their voices and invest the time, trust, and consistency needed to support meaningful change. Together, we are helping young people move towards futures shaped by choice, dignity, and possibility. - Charlene Theophile, Director of Programmes, ThinkForward