qualifications and lack of appropriate clothing for interviews. Several participants noted that qualifications obtained in prison don’ t always translate into opportunities in the wider labour market.

At the same time, the group identified numerous examples of what works. Volunteering, work placements, prison-based employment programmes and organisations willing to employ people with convictions were all viewed positively. Importantly, employment was discussed not simply as a source of income but as a route to identity, purpose, belonging and recovery. The emphasis placed on employment mirrors findings from MoJ and the prison service which have consistently identified work as one of the strongest protective factors against reoffending. For many prison leavers, employment represents more than financial stability; it provides routine, social connection and a renewed sense of purpose.

These themes are not new. Yet hearing them directly from people with lived experience gives them a different weight and urgency.

WORKING TOGETHER Although each group explored a different topic, the common message was that the challenges facing prison leavers are interconnected. Housing affects employment. Employment affects confidence. Confidence affects recovery. Recovery affects social inclusion. Social inclusion affects wellbeing. No single organisation can address these

issues in isolation.

Participants repeatedly called for better communication between services, stronger partnerships between statutory and community organisations, greater involvement of lived experience voices and more joined-up pathways from custody to community. Many also highlighted the unique value of peer support and LEROs. People who have successfully navigated the path themselves can offer hope, credibility and practical guidance that complements professional support.

These themes are not new. Yet hearing them directly from people with lived experience gives them a different weight and urgency. These aren’ t abstract policy concerns – they’ re real-world challenges affecting people trying to build meaningful lives after prison.

If we’ re serious about reducing reoffending, supporting recovery and building healthier

communities, then the perspectives of those most affected must be at the heart of the conversation. GMRN Spotlight aims to provide a space where experiences can be shared, heard and, perhaps most importantly, translated into action.

The message was unmistakable: People leaving prison need more than a release date. They need connection, opportunity, understanding and support. Most of all, they need systems that work together as hard as they do to build a better future.

Dr Lisa Ogilvie is a psychologist for Acorn Recovery Projects and visiting research fellow at the University of Greater Manchester.

Stephanie Ash is a CQCregistered manager and therapist at Acorn Recovery Projects who has experience working with people in prison.

Bernard Shaw founded Project Free, a LERO that supports adults involved in substance-related offending in Greater Manchester.