Life after prison is hard. People often lack support and only half of men and one-third of women are released from prison to their home area (HM Inspector of Prisons 2025). They separated from their homes, communities and positive influence without the local knowledge to know where to get help. We offer a range of mentoring services and practical support programmes to ensure people who are returning to Dorset and Hampshire from prison get the best possible fresh start.
Through the Gate Mentoring
People leaving prison often feel set up to fail. They often are released with immediate needs around housing, food, finance, and physical and mental health without the necessary information to know what to do next. This information is often highly local and specific to a person’s specific situation.
Our staff visit people in prison to assess their needs before they return to Dorset and Hampshire. We address everything from where they will live and with whom, to work, finances, clothing, and mental and physical health. We work in partnership with the people we help, to create an action plan for their release that is both achievable and works towards the future they want. We use this to help them to re-integrate more easily and make our communities safer for everyone.
Meet at the Gate Service (MAGS)
The day of release is stressful and difficult for all people leaving prison. People may face homelessness, unemployment and little support to adjust to life outside. They often have limited resources to get to their destination and lack communication lines to be updated on changes. They need support not just getting to their destination safely but in setting up registering for accommodation, finding a GP, locating local food banks and initiating contact with probation and other services when necessary.
Currently, there is not commissioned service that will meet someone at the gate on their day of release however Footprints is working to fill this gap for those with severe physical or mental health needs. This vital support at a vulnerable moment ensures those leaving prison start their new life on the right footing.
The Footprints Project takes referrals from all prisons but actively visits clients in the following:
Prisons:
HMP Bronzefield (Women)
HMP Channings Wood
HMP Eastwood Park (Women)
HMP Guys Marsh
HMP Leyhill
HMP Portland
HMP Send (women)
HMP Verne
HMP Winchester
Community Mentoring
The Footprints Project provides guidance and motivation to people living in our community who have had contact with the Criminal Justice System. Our mentors, often volunteers, will remain a consistent point of contact once a week either on the phone or in the community face-to-face.
The mentors will work as a non-judgement person that people can go to for advice and support, filling in gap in support for a person specific needs such as with attending appointments, house viewings, helping with CVs and employability skills, finding GPs, food banks and other local support and completing referrals for necessary support networks.
A mentor can be the difference that helps a person in the community return to a meaningful life away from crime and be the positive presence that helps them keep their lives on track.
Gender-Specific Mentoring for Women
Gender-specific support is vital for the women we work with. many of whom have experienced domestic abuse and violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation. Volunteer mentors from The Footprints Project work in line with the Government’s 2018 Female Offender Strategy to deliver a mentoring scheme specifically for women who are returning to our area from women’s prisons HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex, HMP Send in Surrey, and HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire. Specialist female team members from The Footprints Project visit women in prison when possible and match them to female mentors who continue to support them in the community.
Impact of Our Mentoring
- Footprints mentors people at points of crisis. 62% of mentored cases remain with the project for over 3 months and several request help for over a year
- 100% of people mentored who completed 2 self-evaluation reviews showed an increase in at least one area of self management, including hope, motivation, resilience, goal-setting and self-esteem.
- Most people who completed 2 self-evaluation reviews achieved increases in 6 areas.
- 11 vulnerable people were collected from the gate and safely reached their accommodation and appointments.
Ever Considered Volunteering?
Walking alongside someone can be the key to a meaningful change in behaviour.
