Life still doesn’t feel real for Mandy. She’s come such a long way in just a few years. Today she’s a mentor for women who’ve been through the criminal justice system. Two years ago, she was where they are now.

“I was in quite a low place when I first met Jan and Matt,” she says. “But they were really supportive and sympathetic.

“I’d been in the textiles workshop in HMP Foston Hall but I didn’t know what I’d be doing on release. The lady running the workshop mentioned Recycling Lives support and it all went from there.

“What really helped was the savings fund. I was able to save a few hundred pounds.

“I didn’t have anywhere to live when I was released so those funds were helpful for getting back on my feet.

“I didn’t have a phone either, so Jan [Key Worker] sorted one for me. She met me at the gate on the day I was released to give it to me.

“I was in temporary accommodation to begin with, and Jan would regularly check in with me. Then when I moved, I didn’t have the essentials, so she came all the way down, bringing bedding, duvets, cups, a kettle, and a microwave. If she hadn’t have done that, I wouldn’t have had anything.

“For a further two years I really struggled with depression and anxiety. I was just on my own with no friends and family. I was so isolated.

“Both Jan and Matt maintained regular contact, though. Jan would come to visit and that would get me out of the house.

“Matt [Specialist Support Worker] is really good at making you see things in a different way and helping you with techniques to manage your anxiety and confidence.

“I was still required to attend court during that time, and they supported me with that too. They attended every court appearance with me; they travelled down six times just for that.

“They became like family really. Just to have that constant, two people in the background who care and are invested and want to help you.

“Over time I worked on my mental health, got myself into shared housing, and started working part-time.

“And now I’m in my own flat and working full-time as an employment advisor with a charity, supporting women who have convictions to get back into work. It’s so fulfilling and rewarding.

“It doesn’t feel real, all this. Before prison, I was a victim of domestic violence, and I was thinking of ways to end my life. I lost my job and was served an eviction notice from my flat. I was just lost.

“It’s been hard but I’ve had a lot of help along the way. That empathetic and understanding approach can really help people.”