QUICK LINKS: Abdul's Story | John's Story

“I want to change. Maybe if I had help on the outside I will be able to.”
young man at Feltham

“The help I’ve got over the last year has been really good, it has been really helpful to talk to someone who has seen me both inside and outside [Feltham].”
young man at Feltham

Abdul's Story

This was Abdul's second time in prison within a year. He was desperate not to come back the first time around, but, as is the case for so many young men leaving prison, he made a series of poor choices and ended up back inside.

This time he was determined to get some support and accepted the offer of a mentor from the Community Chaplaincy without hesitation. He met with his mentor at Feltham and built a great relationship with him, meeting him a number of times in Feltham. Abdul was then transferred to another prison, but due to the strong relationship built with his mentor, and the mentor’s dedication, they regularly met there and occasionally corresponded through letters.

The mentor took time to contact his family and discuss how best to support Abdul when released. His mentor also provided information on courses he could enrol onto on release. Both Abdul and his mentor recognized that the first few weeks after release from prison would be crucial and the mentor was keen to ensure that Abdul had all the support he needed during this period.

On release, Abdul was met by his mentor and with his support reintegrated with his family and the community. It’s been a long and sometimes difficult journey, but now Abdul is working part-time and studying at college, he has full family support and has high hopes for a better future. 

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John's Story

Like many of the young men we work with, this was not John’s first time in prison. When he first met with us he admitted that at the age of 19 he had never ever had a legal job. Soon to turn twenty John was finally feeling that it was time for a change and he was ready to accept support that would help this change.

John met his mentors a month before he left prison. One of his main worries at this time was that he had lost his housing when he had been brought back on remand and he currently had no address to reside at. This meant that when he went to court he might be left longer in custody. His mentors made contact with a housing project and helped him to produce an address for release. They also supported him by attending court.

At court, possibly because of the support that John had and certainly because he now had a release address, he was released.

Following release John continued to be in contact with his mentors. They did different things together including just having a coffee or going to the gym together. When John’s housing became unstable again his mentors stood by him, going with him to the homeless persons unit and, when this proved unfruitful, they helped him to make contact with an appropriate housing project.

Today John is securely housed and as a result has his own key worker. He has the chance to make a fresh start and, while he acknowledges that every day brings new challenges, he feels he has moved into a different part of his life and is ready for the change ahead.

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