Catch22

Looking for a job? We're a not-for-profit business with a social mission - join us! At Catch22, we deliver a wide variety of services across Justice, Education, Children, Families and Young People, Communities, and Employability. As employers we are committed to providing our staff with a purposeful job in a positive work environment, surrounded by supportive and inspiring people. Your purpose, your people, your place. Learn more about our latest vacancies: https://ow.ly/joVO50Tp1TY

We’re thrilled to reveal the first of our two keynote speakers for Catch22’s upcoming Justice Conference: "The role of the third sector in the criminal justice system". Introducing Russell Webster, a leading voice in the criminal justice sector. With a background as a probation officer, decades of experience working voluntary and third sector organisations, and his work as a consultant since 1996, Russell brings a wealth of insights to the table. He’s also the mind behind the UK's leading criminal justice blog: www.russellwebster.com. Don't miss out! You can still reserve a free ticket to the conference here: https://lnkd.in/emsXsgmg Stay tuned for more updates, including our second keynote announcement!

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay, and with this year's theme - Workplace Mental Health, we wanted to highlight some of the initiatives and support structures we have in place for colleagues at Catch22. Our staff work in community settings, prisons, schools and with many people who experience severe challenges in their lives. This can put a huge strain on colleagues - so making sure they have the right support is vital, so they can, in turn, support our service users effectively.   🤝 Mental Health First Aiders: We have a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders within Catch22. These are a point of contact if colleagues are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. They’re not therapists or psychiatrists but they can give initial support and signpost to appropriate help if required.   🤳 Employee Assistance Programme: All Catch22 colleagues have access to this confidential service which includes access to counselling for emotional problems and a pathway to structured therapy sessions, online CBT and bereavement support.   ⚕ Clinical supervision: This is something offered to colleagues working in some of the most challenging settings.   👩💼 Staff groups: There are a number of staff groups across the organisation, including our active Women’s Health Group and Men’s Health Group, where colleagues from across Catch22 meet to discuss ideas, host webinars and ensure our policies are representative and easily available.    Mental health and wellbeing support is something that cuts across all of our service delivery, too. We have a number of specialist services but we also recognise the importance of mental health support in our wider provision.   - Our Hive service in Camden is a free drop-in health and wellbeing service to support local young people aged 16-24. We provide help and advice on matters such as mental health, personal development, health and wellbeing, sexual health, substance misuse and employability. It also has a vibrant social hub. The Hive is delivered in partnership with local NHS Trusts and other organisations including Brandon Centre - Here for Young People, The Winch, and Anna Freud - Participants on our employability programmes complete our Path to Progress tool – which includes a measure of how they feel about their own mental health and wellbeing. We’re proud participants report an improvement in their mental health, and wellbeing having been a part of our programmes.   - From a policy perspective, we’re proud to be members of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, convened by the Centre for Mental Health   Read more about our emotional support services https://lnkd.in/eZ-ubChy

We're back from an action-packed couple of weeks at the Conservative and Labour Party Conferences! It was an incredible opportunity to connect with policymakers, discuss key issues affecting young people, and showcase our incredible work. From youth violence prevention to green jobs, we've had some amazing conversations and built new partnerships. A few highlights: - Conservative Conference: Tackling the root causes of youth violence with a holistic approach. - Labour Conference: Empowering young people through education, employment, and social justice. - Policy Announcements: Celebrating commitments to care-experienced young people and Foundation Apprenticeships. We're excited to see such strong support for the issues we care about. Together, we can create a brighter future for young people. Learn more and read the full blog https://lnkd.in/exMcUqyQ #PartyConference

The Young People and Families (YP&F) Hub sits at the heart of Catch22 where we tackle a wide range of challenges faced by young people and their families today including Missing From Home, Child Exploitation, Substance Misuse, Emotional Wellbeing, Crisis Support, and Mediation. Our passionate and skilled teams form trusting relationships and work alongside children, young people and families helping them to reduce their risks, build on their strengths and increase their resilience in order to: • feel safer, • be healthier both physically and mentally, • be more confident to make positive choices, and • be more able to enjoy their life. Read more and download our report: https://ow.ly/aFPP50TGxn0

Our Code4000 programme was recently featured in the PA Foundation’s Impact Report on their collaboration with organisations that are supporting prison leavers and individuals in custody.   Code4000 helps women with experience of the criminal justice system to learn to code and find entry level tech opportunities. PA’s support has been invaluable to bring the programme into the community, supporting returning citizens as they work towards a brighter future. By working in partnership with organisations passionate about justice and rehabilitation like PA, we are able to widen the impact we have on the people we support.

We were thrilled to host a dynamic panel at the Conservative Party Conference last week, exploring how community hubs and prevention partnerships can tackle youth violence. Our expert panel featured Anne Longfield CBE (Centre for Young Lives), Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner), Chi K. (Catch22), Tim Loughton (former MP and Children’s Minister) and Ellie Vesey-Thompson (Surrey Deputy PCC lead), who brought a wealth of experience and fresh ideas to the table. The discussion emphasised the importance of early intervention, with panelists agreeing that increasing police numbers alone is not the answer. Real change comes from addressing the underlying causes of violence, such as family breakdown and educational exclusion, and ensuring young people have access to safe spaces and opportunities to thrive. Here are some key takeaways from our panel discussion: • Holistic community support: Community hubs should provide a range of services beyond just crime prevention, including mental health support, skills programmes, and family services. This ensures a more inclusive and accessible environment for all young people. • Place-based interventions: Effective crime prevention solutions need to be tailored to the specific needs of the community. Programmes like Redthread, which places youth workers in hospitals, work because they respond to local needs and engage young people at critical moments. • Youth involvement is essential: Any initiative aimed at preventing youth violence must integrate the voices and experiences of young people themselves. Programmes designed without youth input are less likely to resonate or be effective. • Long-term commitment is necessary: Short-term projects are often insufficient. Youth violence prevention requires sustained funding and long-term interventions to have a real impact, with measurable outcomes like reduced school exclusions and improved community wellbeing. Family and education are key: A strong link was made between family breakdown, domestic abuse, and educational exclusion as root causes of youth violence. Interventions must address these underlying issues to prevent violence. • Policing alone isn’t the solution: While policing is important, it cannot be the sole strategy for reducing youth violence. A multi-agency approach involving schools, charities, and community organisations is essential to addressing the root causes. • Impact of recent riots: The recent unrest across the UK highlighted the need for proactive community engagement and strong social infrastructure to prevent future incidents and give young people a sense of belonging and responsibility within their communities. We’d like to thank all the panelists and attendees for their thoughtful contributions and look forward to continuing these important conversations. 

For today's service spotlight, we're highlighting the success of The Social Switch Project's Online Harms Forum. Back in July, this event brought together diverse voices, each sharing unique insights on keeping young people safe in our digital landscape. Together, we explored vital conversations around policy, shared heartfelt stories, and brainstormed actionable strategies that resonate far beyond a single day. It was inspiring to witness such a passionate gathering focused on protecting future generations from online risks. A special thank you to: Q&A panelists: Lib Peck, Director of London's Violence Reduction Unit, Naomi Hulston, Catch22 Chief Executive, Cath Knibbs, Cyber-trauma and Online Harms Specialist and Clara Ackingbade & Kai Bibi Young Persons Action Group at London's Violence Reduction Unit Guest speakers: Michael Railton & Gwenno Thomas from Ofcom, Lorin LaFave Gordon from the Breck Foundation, Donna Ceasar & Adam Barr from the Met Police Uk and Georgia Harrison, Love Island UK star Workshop facilitators: Breck Foundation and Young Persons Action Group at London's Violence Reduction Unit. The Social Switch Project & Catch22 team: Jon Matthews, Kayleigh Milner, Victoria Head, Samantha Crandle, Richard Smith, Ellie Leacy, Thea Symonds and Rhoda Agilinko.

In today's episode of the #Catch22Minutes podcast, Nic continues to explore life after prison with her guests who have lived-experience. This week, Nic is joined by Carl (C.Roots) to delve into the importance of creativity as an outlet for healing during and after prison. They discuss the role of the creative process, and reflect on creative growth during rehabilitation. 🟩 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ekhCSRkR  🟥 Listen on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eGQk8Nff  🟪 Listen on Apple: https://lnkd.in/exhMgkjW 

Want to know more about the SDS40 early release scheme? Our blog this week explores its potential impact on both victims and offenders, and the crucial role that community support will play in its success. https://lnkd.in/e_t9JsPr