Nurture, Empower, Support, Thrive

Preventing Female Imprisonment Through Early Intervention

The Weavers are launching the NEST Programme (Nurture, Empower, Support, Thrive) — a two-year national pilot providing trauma-informed, community-based support to young women aged 14–25 at risk of entering or becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system.

Beyond providing key services during the pilot, the programme has two over-arching additional principles a) to be scalable and statutorily funded by Government following evaluation and b) transferable to the male prison estate.

Key Facts:

Two-year national pilot across two locations (London and Leeds)
£500k committed by The Weavers
216 young women supported
£4,996 per participant vs £79,000 prison cost

Background

For over 50 years the Weavers have supported organisations working in the criminal justice sector and have increasingly focused on the disproportionate harm caused by short custodial sentences for women.

In January 2025 we convened a national Alternatives to Custody Summit at Church House, bringing together more than 300 practitioners, researchers, policymakers and charities working across the women’s justice sector. The summit explored practical ways to reduce female imprisonment and highlighted the need for earlier, coordinated support for young women at risk of entering the criminal justice system. Following the summit, the Weavers launched a funded competition to develop a scalable intervention, which was won by Her Insights Collective who have created of the NEST (Nurture, Empower, Support, Thrive) programme.

Justice and Women

Why Female Custody Needs Reform

Most custodial sentences for women in England and Wales are short sentences of under 12 months, often for non-violent offences.

For young women, the consequences can be particularly severe. Even brief periods in custody can interrupt education, employment and family relationships, increasing the likelihood of further justice involvement rather than preventing it.

There is growing recognition across government, charities and the justice sector that earlier, community-based support offers a more effective and humane response. By intervening before problems escalate, it is possible to reduce harm, improve life outcomes and prevent unnecessary entry into the criminal justice system.

The Case for Prevention

There is growing evidence that earlier, community-based intervention is both more effective and more humane than short custodial sentences for women.

Around 75% of custodial sentences for women are under 12 months, often for non-violent offences. Yet short sentences frequently disrupt housing, employment and family relationships without addressing the underlying causes of offending.

The consequences extend beyond the individual. Each year 17,000–18,000 children are separated from their mothers through imprisonment, with lasting effects on family stability, educational outcomes and long-term wellbeing.

At the same time, imprisonment is expensive. A place in a women’s prison costs around £79,000 per year, compared with approximately £4,996 for the preventative support provided through the NEST programme.

These realities are driving increasing interest in preventative, community-based responses that address the root causes of offending before lives are destabilised by custody.

75% of custodial sentences for women are under 12 months

17,000–18,000 children separated from mothers each year

£79,000 prison cost vs £4,996 prevention support

In response to these challenges, Her Insight Collective have developed a strategic programme designed to demonstrate how early intervention can prevent escalation into custody.

For too long, we have invested in crisis responses instead of prevention. The NEST programme shows what it looks like to do things differently: earlier, smarter, and rooted in communities. This is exactly the kind of innovation we need if we are serious about reducing harm and building a more effective, compassionate system. - Tracy Brabin; Mayor of West Yorkshire

Introducing the NEST Programme

The NEST programme (Nurture, Empower, Support, Thrive) is a two-year pilot designed to prevent vulnerable young women aged 14–25 from entering or becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system.

Developed following sector consultation and research into the drivers of female offending, NEST focuses on providing early, consistent and relational support before problems escalate into crisis or custody.

At the centre of the programme is a dedicated Advocate, who works one-to-one with each participant over an extended period. Advocates build trusted relationships and coordinate practical support across the areas that most affect young women’s stability and future prospects — including education, housing, health, employment and interaction with justice services.

Delivered through experienced community-based organisations, the programme takes a trauma-informed and gender-specific approach, recognising the complex challenges many young women face, including abuse, family breakdown, poor mental health and social exclusion.

By providing intensive support through small caseloads and coordinated services, NEST aims to help participants stabilise their lives, rebuild confidence and develop pathways into education, training and employment.

The pilot will be independently evaluated with the aim of demonstrating a scalable model that could inform future national policy and investment in preventative justice approaches.

NEST in 60 Seconds

Too many young women are drawn into the justice system because support is identified too late and is too fragmented. NEST offers a practical, evidence-based model centred on continuity, trust and early intervention. It is a strong example of shifting from managing crisis to preventing it. - Alison Lowe; Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, West Yorkshire

What the Pilot Will Deliver

The NEST pilot will support young women at a critical point in their lives, providing the stability and opportunities needed to prevent escalation into the criminal justice system.

Through dedicated advocacy, coordinated services and sustained engagement, the programme aims to deliver measurable improvements in participants’ wellbeing, stability and life opportunities.

The pilot will aim to deliver:
Reduced custody and justice involvement	Fewer young women entering or returning to custody, with greater use of preventative community support.
Improved mental health and emotional wellbeing	Participants gaining confidence, resilience and improved emotional stability through consistent support and trusted relationships.
Greater engagement in education, training and employment	Support to access qualifications, training opportunities and pathways into sustainable employment.
Stable housing and stronger social stability	Improved housing outcomes and reduced risk of homelessness through coordinated support with local services.
Stronger community integration	Participants building supportive relationships and developing the skills needed to participate positively in their communities.

Early, relational, community-based support offers the greatest opportunity to prevent harm, reduce re-offending and unlock potential. NEST represents an important step towards a more effective, humane and preventative justice system. - Lady Edwina Grosvenor Founder; One Small Thing

Sector Support

The NEST programme has been developed through collaboration between organisations with extensive experience supporting women and girls affected by the criminal justice system who together formed Her Insights Collective.

Funding

The Weavers’ Company has committed £500,000 to support the first NEST pilot, building on an earlier £100,000 investment in research and programme development.

This catalytic funding enables the launch of a two-year pilot programme designed to demonstrate how early, community-based intervention can prevent young women entering custody and improve long-term life outcomes.

We are now seeking philanthropic partners to help expand the programme and build the evidence required for national adoption.

Funding partners can support:

Delivery of a second pilot location
Independent evaluation of the programme
Programme resilience and scaling

The full programme aims to support over 200 young women across two pilot locations while generating robust evidence to inform future government policy and investment in preventative approaches to justice.

Get Involved

Preventing unnecessary imprisonment and supporting vulnerable young women requires collaboration across philanthropy, charities and public services.

We welcome interest from organisations and individuals who wish to support the development of the NEST programme and help build a more effective and humane justice system.

Ways to get involved include:

Becoming a funding partner
Supporting programme evaluation and learning
Collaborating on delivery or policy development

To learn more about the programme or discuss partnership opportunities, please contact: Clerk@weavers.org.uk