Support adults in the criminal justice system

Positive Futures – Supported Pathway

YouTurn Futures has developed and delivered its own unique and effective Pathway service for over 6 years.  The Supported Pathway is designed to provide a bespoke service to 13-25 year olds who are at risk of coming into to contact with the Criminal Justice System.  Very often young people are vulnerable through social injustice that causes their lifestyle to challenge societal norms.  The period of transition from youth to adult services is also a very challenging time, particularly for those who have experienced the care system.

We have delivered the Positive Futures Supported Pathway across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.  Following referral each young person meets one of our team and after introductions we complete a comprehensive pathway-based evaluation of need around an ‘outcome star’ as well as NICE approved wellbeing assessments.

We negotiate and create a plan with the client and heavily focus on outcomes.

Over the past 6 years we reported to commissioners on impact.  We have also had the service independently evaluated by Cornish and Grey.  Both the young people and their parents said that the Supported Pathway service was ‘really, really good’. They felt that it had provided them with opportunities that met their needs and that these opportunities had made significant change to their lives.

“I don’t think they can do anything better because the way they’ve helped me has been perfect really…”

“What they’re doing is all I can ask for at the moment. They’re pulling out all the stops that they can.”

Shorter term outcomes include developing CV’s for employment, increased resilience through wellbeing support and engaging with other service providers.  Longer term, these include sustainable accommodation, entering and thriving in education and employment.

Integrated Offender Management

YouTurn Futures has coordinated the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) scheme in Bedfordshire since 2014.  Our Bedfordshire scheme is unique in the UK as it is the only independently coordinated scheme, others are typically coordinated by Police or Probation Services.

IOM is a joint Home Office and Ministry of Justice programme that aims to reduce the offending of the most prolific offenders in the community. YouTurn helped Bedfordshire Police get the first ever ‘Outstanding’ grade for Offender Management in their HMICFRS PEEL report published in February 2023.  And, in 2024, HMIP reported YouTurn’s contribution to Probation’s delivery of IOM in Bedfordshire as ‘Impressive’.

The College of Policing has recognised that the cost benefit evaluation that YouTurn undertakes each year is unique and ‘effective practice’.  In 2023/24 the impact, measured through reduced ‘harm’ and cost savings, for delivering IOM across Bedfordshire was ‘reduced harm’ of 75% equivalent to £7.1m cost benefit savings; and in 2024/25 73% ‘reduced harm’ and £6.6m savings .

By coordinating IOM, YouTurn Futures…

  • ensures we have an effective Information Sharing Agreement signed by all partners; 
  • reports on behalf of the scheme to the Reducing Reoffending Board; 
  • chairs the monthly Multi Agency Case Conference Panel;
  • annually evaluates the economic cost benefits of the IOM scheme;
  • hosts a unique solution to sharing information across the local scheme;
  • and provides logistical support to the weekly Multi Agency Practitioner meetings.

YouTurn also provides a significant amount of ‘added value’.  As a charity we are able to bid for grant funding that statutory authorities cannot.  This helps us provide:

  • Wellbeing support across the county 
  • Employment Support in Luton
  • Extended support covering all offender based pathways
  • Crisis funding 
  • Support on release from prison for the IOM cohort members

Rehabilitation and Prison

At the heart of our charity right back to our founding in 2014, YouTurn Futures has supported both young and adult offenders in their rehabilitative journey.  We work very closely with the youth and criminal justice services to make sure we take a pathway-based approach to support.  The transition from youth to adult services is something that YouTurn excels at by taking an evidence-based approach adopting interventions that have the greatest chance of success.  

At the start of any of our client’s journey with us we complete an outcome star with them to highlight those areas of need and critical success factors.  This is reviewed regularly, we are able to demonstrate impact through achievable outcomes.

Very often clients need support to get the building blocks in place to successfully living in the community: accommodation; finances and ‘life skills’.

More recently YouTurn Futures has been accredited to deliver AQA entry level and level 1 certificates for out our clients.  We adopt a ‘life skills’ approach initially to motivate our clients and show they can achieve.  Many have not received a consistent education and need their confidence building as a building block towards employment.

YouTurn also has strong strategic and operational links to HMP Bedford.  We continue to work closely with the prison as part of the IOM programme.  Residents at the prison receive support from YouTurn prior to release, on their journey into the community and, very often, back into their families.

For those leaving the prison community, it can be very challenging seeking employment.  Our dedicated staff provide one to one support and advice to complete assessments and start support towards volunteering and employment.