Kids Matter x Change for Good

This year, Change for Good partnered with Kids Matter to develop and deliver the first community parenting programme specifically designed for people leaving prison. While Kids Matter is already an established, evidence-based parenting programme delivered in communities and prisons, together we identified a significant gap in support for parents during the critical transition from custody back into the community. By combining Kids Matter's expertise in strengthening family relationships with Change for Good's trusted relationships and lived experience-led approach to resettlement, we facilitated a pioneering six-week programme, informed by NICE, that helps parents rebuild relationships with their children and establish positive family routines following release.

To date, we have delivered two programmes, in partnership with Christ Church Peckham, with referrals received through Approved Premises and from members already engaged with Change for Good. The first cohort welcomed three participants, all of whom completed the course. Demonstrating the programme's lasting impact, two graduates have since trained as Kids Matter facilitators, with one returning to co-facilitate the second course alongside the delivery team. A further four participants graduated from the second programme, meaning seven parents have now successfully completed the course.

Supporting parents to reconnect with their children is a vital part of successful resettlement. Strong family relationships are consistently recognised as a protective factor against reoffending, providing motivation, stability and a renewed sense of purpose. By equipping parents with practical skills, greater confidence and supportive peer networks, the programme helps participants build healthier relationships with their children while reinforcing their own recovery and desistance journeys.

The impact is best illustrated by the experiences of participants. Joey joined the programme after years of addiction, repeated imprisonment and losing custody of his children. Reflecting on why he enrolled, he said simply, "I came for my children." He describes the programme as transformational: "It has made such a positive impact on me being a good parent... I've learnt tools which I can use on a daily basis." Beyond parenting skills, Joey found hope and belief in his future: "It's not about what I've done or who I was, it's about who I am and who I can be." Having now trained as a Kids Matter facilitator, he is using his lived experience to support other parents beginning the same journey.

Change for Good Ambassador, Abdul, also spoke about the profound difference the programme has made to his relationship with his young son. Following two years in recovery, he described the emotional challenge of rebuilding contact after prison but explained how the course helped him become "a father who is present, patient and intentional." He reflected, "These tools aren't just techniques. They are the bricks to build a bridge of trust that no distance or circumstances can ever break." Thanking the teams from both organisations, he said: "You didn't just give me parenting tools; you gave me the strength to look at my son without a fog of shame clouding my eyes... You haven't just changed my life; you've changed the world for my son."

The early outcomes from this partnership demonstrate the value of collaborative working between specialist organisations. By combining complementary expertise, we have facilitated a programme that addresses an unmet need and supports prison leavers to strengthen family relationships at a pivotal point in their resettlement. The programme is already building capacity through graduates becoming facilitators, ensuring that lived experience remains central to delivery while creating a sustainable model for future cohorts. We look forward to building on these early successes and expanding access to this life-changing support for more parents leaving prison.