What we do

We have a team of three Switchback Mentors, each with a small caseload of Trainees.

• Our approach is built on unconditional positive regard for Trainees, respect for the courage of their endeavour to change and the assumption that they will join mainstream society.


• We do not offer traditional mentoring using volunteers. What we provide is much more intensive. Switchback Mentors are full-time paid staff and they must "be willing to become the most important person in a Trainee’s life and work towards that no longer being the case".


• We do not limit the time that Trainees spend with Switchback and we have never excluded anyone from the programme. The average amount of time that a Trainee is in contact with us is 19 months.


• Switchback Mentors get to know a network of people connected to each Trainee such as their Offender Manager, Probation Officer, mother and girlfriend.


• We avoid quick-fix solutions even if it means seeing Trainees make mistakes.

It’s not the easiest way to work but the results are worth it.