From Barriers to Bridges, our 2025 round up.

Author

Esther Champion
December 09, 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of challenges, achievements, and impact. We’re proud of the impact we’ve had on businesses, the voluntary sector, and employment coaches and of the businesses and prisons we’ve showcased that are driving change and reducing reoffending through skills, opportunity, and purpose.

This year has also brought significant shifts in the Criminal Justice System. While not all changes align with our vision, we remain hopeful that positive outcomes will emerge. Most recently, the Government has announced further reforms to our court system. Read on to discover what’s ahead and how it could shape the future of justice

All change in the court system…!

The UK government has announced plans to restrict jury trials in Crown Courts, reserving them only for the most serious offences such as murder, rape, and robbery. Most other cases carrying sentences of three years or less would be decided by a judge alone in newly created “swift courts.”

What does this mean? It means that most criminal cases, including for offences of burglary, affray, theft, and threats to kill, will be heard by a single judge in a new Crown Court Bench Division. A new system of judge-only “swift courts” is being introduced to speed up justice. with the government claiming that these trials will take 20% less time than jury trials, reducing the average case length from 332 days.

Why are they doing this? This change in court system has been driven by a record backlog of over 78,000 Crown Court cases, worsened by funding cuts, COVID-19, and prison overcrowding.

Business showcase; which businesses have impressed us this year…

Over the past year, we’ve highlighted six remarkable businesses leading the way in reducing reoffending. Some are equipping people in prison with vital skills to secure employment upon release, while others are directly offering jobs to prison leavers, creating opportunities to grow, thrive, and build a purposeful future.

The businesses we’ve showcased are (click on each one to see their website):

We’ll find and showcase more businesses next year. If you know of any, then please do let us know!

Prisons of the year…

This year we’ve also spotlighted five prisons that are making impressive strides in reducing reoffending. Through employment skills and opportunities for men and women to better understand themselves and access vital support, these prisons are creating pathways to change. From printing workshops and therapeutic communities to repurposing life jackets, hospitality, and construction, they are equipping people with the tools to build positive, purposeful lives beyond prison.

These prisons are:

  • HMP Suffolk

  • HMP Bristol

  • HMP Grendon

  • HMP Lewes

  • HMP Liverpool

We’ll be showcasing more prisons next year, so watch this space!

Our highlights of the year

  • Workshops
    This year we delivered 10 workshops to voluntary organisations, businesses, training providers, and work coaches. Participants reported increased confidence and knowledge, and many felt empowered to actively recruit or support people with a criminal record.

  • Podcasts
    We were interviewed on two podcasts this year, bringing our total to three. It’s always humbling to be invited to share our work, and we’ve enjoyed every moment. You can listen to our most recent conversation on Time for Impact here.

  • Videos
    We were invited to record a video for faculty staff at Westminster Theology Centre, who are running a Theology course in HMP The Mount. The video offered insights into working inside prisons and the realities staff may encounter.

  • Business Shows
    We spoke at the South Gloucester Business Show about the benefits of recruiting prison leavers. Although we joined remotely (just before heading off on holiday!), it was a valuable experience and one we hope to repeat in person next year.

  • Steps to Wellbeing
    We delivered our first Steps to Wellbeing course since qualifying as a trainer with Brighter Days. The session was a great success, with incredibly positive feedback from participants.

    • Here’s what one participant found particularly helpful: “Understanding all the things that can put us out of balance, and learning what we can and cannot control” and “learning that resilience is not ‘going it alone;’”. 

    • And their thoughts on the course: “The course was well run, thought provoking and helped to pinpoint areas where we needed help”.

    • We’ll be delivering this course again on the following dates: February 11th, 18th, 25th, and March 4th, 7.30pm-9pm, online. If you’re interested in attending the course, please email me at [email protected] for a booking form, no later than January 31st. If you know of anyone who may be interested, please do let them know. More information is in the image below.

Steps to wellbeing flyer, highlighting the topics of perfectionism, anxiety, healthy relationships, and resilience.

If you have any questions, feedback, or criminal justice items you’d like us to cover, then do get in touch and let us know.

Until next time, don’t delay in increasing your inclusive work practices today