HMP Millsike: Forward Trust working in partnership with MITIE and People Plus

Led by the outsourcing giant MITIE, Forward Trust and People Plus are part of a partnership that aims to create a strong rehabilitation culture in the prison, to improve prison conditions and reduce reoffending.

In recognition of this exciting new approach, the prison was officially opened on March 27^th by the Justice Secretary Shabhana Mahmood, and the Prisons Minister James Timpson, and we look forward to starting our work with prisoners in April.

HMP Millsike partnership: whole person – whole relationships – whole community

Forward Trust will be directly delivering 3 core services in Millsike: 

• Connections Families and Relationships  
  We are involving families in prisoners’ rehabilitation, building and repairing relationships - a key turning point towards long term change. We will bring together prisoners and their families to go through one of our range of family therapy and reconciliation programmes.

• Connections Services for Visitors 
  Our Visitor's Centre is a welcoming environment that meets the needs of family, friends, of all ages - a safe and accessible hub for families and significant others to get support and be connected to organisations that can help them.
  
  Combat 2 Coffee, a social enterprise working with former military personnel, will provide all catering for visits through two cafes that employ prisoners, providing training and employment opportunities. Much like the ‘Timpson’s’ model, they can then move from this into meaningful apprenticeships and employment on release.

• Breaking the Cycle
  Forward will be running the ‘recovery community’ initiative on houseblock E - a community of 60 men committed to desistance from crime, who are incentivised to work towards a crime free future. Our new desistance programme – entitled ‘More Than My Past’ will use a recovery model of personal development, practical life skills, and high behavioral standards, that enables prisoners to move away from their past offending towards a law-abiding and socially integrated lifestyle.

Our vision at the Forward Trust is that anyone is capable of lasting change, if provided with the right support and opportunities. All our services are based on this principle, and we also promote it through our More Than My Past and Taking Action on Addiction campaigns which are spearheaded by our Royal Patron HRH Catherine The Princess of Wales and chair of Trustees Tony Adams MBE.    

Forward Trust’s More Than My Past ambassadors and our Forward Connect Community of former clients will play an active part in our work in Millsike, acting as role models for change, and inspiring others that lasting change is possible. Families will be fully involved in this work.

Whatever their history or circumstances, we believe that anyone should get the opportunity and support to live a positive life that fulfils their potential, and to inspire others to follow the same path. We are delighted that thanks to the funding from the Ministry of Justice/HM Prison and Probation Service, we will have the ability to transform the lives of many more people with the support we have to offer at HMP Millsike.

Forward Trust’s network of More Than My Past ambassadors and our ‘Forward Connect’ Community of former clients will play an active part in our work in Millsike, acting as role models for change, and inspiring others to believe that lasting change is possible.

Whatever their history or circumstances, we believe that anyone should get the opportunity and support to live a positive life that fulfils their potential, and to inspire others to follow the same path. We are delighted that thanks to the funding from HM Prison and Probation Service, we will have the ability to transform the lives of many more people with the support we have to offer at HMP Millsike.