Our theory of change

Forward’s mission is to empower people to break the cycle of crime and addiction and achieve transformational change. Our theory of change illustrates how we enable this to happen via a series of service pathways. Our clients can follow these to make changes and ultimately turn their lives around, with a range of interventions available at each stage to enable progression. All of these pathways are enhanced by the presence of our peer support network – Forward Connect – that provides inspiration and direction to clients seeking to make changes.

Pause activities

• Drug and alcohol recovery: assessment and stabilisation of drug use. Immediate medical care and prescribing
• Mental health: assessment, triage, and harm reduction advice and information
• Families: mapping and reviewing key relationships
• Employment: assessment of employment status, and realistic job opportunities
• Housing: assessment of housing status, advice and information

Engage activities

• Drug and alcohol recovery: working on motivation to change, skills and recovery
• Mental health: One-to-one support and group workshops to promote wellbeing and healthy behaviours
• Families: Reaching out to family, friends and peers to develop positive connections
• Employment: articulating dreams and ambitions; vocational skills and work-ready behaviours
• Housing: support planning aimed at starting and maintaining tenancies

Develop activities

• Drug and alcohol recovery: working through our 12-step recovery programmes; engagement with support networks
• Mental health: pursuing safe and healthy behaviours, and activities that generate mental health and wellbeing
• Families: working through difficult issues, building positive networks
• Employment: placement into real jobs or work experience
• Housing: sustainable and safe independent housing with wrap around support

Prosper outcomes

• Drug and alcohol recovery: Independent and positive lifestyle, free from crime and addiction
• Mental health: a long, contented and healthy life
• Families: lasting, supportive and positive relationships with family and social networks
• Employment: economic independence, self-worth, career progression
• Housing: a sense of stability and belonging with a foundation for the future