Supporting people to get out and stay out.

Working with IPP/Lifers to help with building New Connections for a Brighter Future.

Working one-on-one to fight for a future for
ex-offenders

We are convinced that ex-offenders can develop a passion for their own recovery and that they are able to transform their lives into ones that are happy, fulfilling and which contribute to those around them.

Our aim is to use all our resources to help achieve positive outcomes for all those who we work with within the criminal justice system and outside of it.

HOW WE WORK

Working one-on-one to ensure positive outcomes

How do we work

New Connections is a specialist organisation working with IPP-sentenced individuals and Lifers at every stage of their journey: in custody, through the parole process, and after release. Our clients have a history with addiction and mental health challenges and are preparing for Parole or release after a substantial period of imprisonment.

New Connections provides support and guidance in prison through individual and group sessions and the agreement of individual recovery plans to give the ex-offender the opportunity to recover from their addiction and change the direction of their life away from drugs and crime.

working with lifers / ipp prisoners suffering from addiction

Passionate about recovery

New Connections believes that everyone has the right and the ability to fulfil their potential. Those dreams, that potential cannot become real while a life is blighted by addiction, depression, crime and imprisonment. Our aim is to help prisoners find the way to become ex-offenders capable of making the transformational change necessary to live very different lives.

Why IPP / Lifer sentences

At New Connections we work primarily with Lifers and IPP Prisoners who possibly also have issues with addiction.

Both IPP and Lifer prisoners come out living on a license and this reality is a very challenging way to live. We work with our clients to help them ensure they build a plan that will help them succeed in this, and find the support they need to avoid recall in to prison once they have been released.

The landscape for IPP-sentenced individuals has changed significantly. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 introduced, for the first time, an automatic route to licence termination — meaning those who have spent three years on licence and two continuous years in the community without recall can apply to have their IPP licence ended. This is a landmark change, but it does not reduce the need for specialist support. If anything, the complexity of navigating this process, rebuilding life in the community, and demonstrating sustained stability makes expert, consistent support more important than ever. New Connections has been working with this cohort since 2018, and we are ready to help.

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Our Process

We focus on four main areas when we work with our clients:

1. SUPPORT WHILST IN PRISON

Support starts in prison with a comprehensive assessment of the client’s needs

An agreement on his/her treatment plan.

Followed by individual and group therapies as appropriate

Client attendance at self help fellowship meetings.

2. PREPARATION FOR RELEASE

We work with the client to ensure appropriate housing is in place on release

Ensure the required level of therapeutic intervention which may include residential rehabilitation

And/or attendance at New Connections for individual or group sessions.

New Connections also prepares a report for Parole wherever this is required and are available to attend Parole hearings as expert witness.

3. SUPPORT AFTER RELEASE

Where possible we can meet clients at the prison gate on the day of release, we can escort them to their first appointments, including probation, local drug intervention services, and their agreed accommodation.

Ongoing support includes individual counselling and mentoring, connecting with AA or NA, finding a sponsor, and building wider community networks, with a personalised care plan reviewed at one, three, and six months post-release across ten key areas including mental health, accommodation, and personal goals.

If a client breaks contact at any point, we make five attempts to re-establish communication. The care plan is shared with probation and all relevant professionals, and clients always know they can reach out to us at any time.

4. LIFE IN RECOVERY

New Connections intention is to provide support for ex-offenders so that he/she can make the fundamental changes necessary to live happy and fulfilling lives.

Based on a life free from drugs and crime and the bondage to that lifestyle.

We follow the same individual through custody, parole, release, and any subsequent recalls: frequently the only continuous relationship they have across multiple institutions and supervision periods.

5. IPP WORKSHOPS

Who: Prison officers, probation staff, offender managers, housing officers, and council workers: anyone whose role brings them into contact with IPP-sentenced individuals.

Why: IPP sentences carry a psychological weight that most standard training does not prepare practitioners for. Understanding this cohort, and how to support them effectively, makes a measurable difference to outcomes.

How: Our bespoke workshops are delivered in-prison or remotely, co-facilitated by people with direct lived experience of IPP sentences, and tailored to your setting and your team.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR IPP WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONALS

Stories

JOHN's Tale

My name is John and I am an addict. I start with that because that’s what and who I am. If I don’t remind myself of this very simple fact each day, then I am in trouble. I am humble enough today to admit and accept it.

I grew up on a modest council estate in central Scotland. My earliest memories are watching my Dad physically and mentally abuse my Mother. Life at home as a child was chaotic and painful. I remember going to school and painting this picture of John that wasn’t true or real. Based solely on fantasy. Based on trying to fit in with the other children I went to school with and based on how I thought the world would accept me. I used to tell white lies, exaggerate the truth or in some cases make up some quite extreme stories. Just to fit in. Just to feel apart of. Just to feel accepted. I was never comfortable with who I was or where I came from.

Mentorship Programme

We are in the process of building up our mentorship programme with clients of ours who we have been working with for a while. Whether or not you have worked with us in the past or not, and you are interested in being either a mentor or mentee, then please get in touch and we can discuss what opportunities we have available.

Volunteer with us

If you are interested in volunteering with us, we would be really interested in discussing this further with you. You can find out more about the specific opportunities here.

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Our Partners

We work with a variety of services providers that we can refer our clients onto to ensure they get the best support available through their journey.

If you would like to partner with us please just get in touch. Whether it is a collaboration or a network share, or to help build support networks within your area, we are open to a wide variety of partner relationships

Supporting people to get out and stay out.

Working with IPP/Lifers to help with building New Connections for a Brighter Future.

Working one-on-one to fight for a future for ex-offenders

Working one-on-one to ensure positive outcomes

How do we work

working with lifers / ipp prisoners suffering from addiction

Passionate about recovery

Why IPP / Lifer sentences

Our Process

1.

SUPPORT WHILST IN PRISON

2.

PREPARATION FOR RELEASE

3.

SUPPORT AFTER RELEASE

4.

LIFE IN RECOVERY

5.

IPP WORKSHOPS