News

Sally Benton’s response to the government’s early release scheme

Last week, the long-awaited early prison release scheme began. It was accompanied, of course, by media fanfare.

• Drug & alcohol support
• Probation support
• Housing & resettlement support

Unlocking Potential: The Case for Hiring Ex-Offenders in the Horticulture Industry

Since early 2020, I have been the Head of Enterprise at Forward. I lead our two wholly-owned horticulture-based social enterprises, Blue Sky Services and Amenity Landscaping. Our mission is to provide high-class grounds maintenance, car park maintenance, and garden landscaping services by employing individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on ex-offenders.

• Employment support

Recovery Walk & Festival 24 – London

Forward Trust was proud to walk with our recovery community at the national FAVOR Recovery Walk on Saturday.

Responding to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall’s Blueprint

In July 2024, Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, launched the Government’s plan to reform the welfare system. It aims to change the ‘Department of Welfare’ to a ‘Department for Work’.

• Employment support

Employability Day (13th September) – employment support for every citizen

At Forward, a huge part of our work aims to get people into work, which is why we are delighted to celebrate Employability Day (13th September).

FAVOR UK’s Recovery Walk 2024

We at Forward are delighted to be sponsoring FAVOR UK’s Recovery Walk in London this Saturday. With live music and activities taking place all afternoon, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Faces and Voices of Recovery Annual Conference 2024

The Forward Trust is proud to be taking part in this year’s recovery conference. We’d love to chat with you, so if you are attending, why not visit us on our stand?

World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) – a time for reflection, compassion and understanding

At Forward, we know only too well that people living with a dependency to drugs and alcohol use are at increased risk of co-occurring mental illness – including suicide – which is why we are wholeheartedly supporting World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) and its 2024-2026 campaign theme, ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide.’

The Outrun – an honest, moving and powerful new feature film that encapsulates the complexities of recovery

Released in the UK on 27th September, we fully endorse this exceptional new film by Studiocanal, based on the popular memoir of Amy Liptrot, a former Forward Trust client. And we’re delighted to get our hands on a new interview with the stars of the film!

Art exhibition in Margate paints a vivid and honest picture of addiction

In Margate, Kent, an art group made up of people in recovery from addiction, along with staff from the Forward Trust have put together an exhibition of their work

• Mental health support
• Drug & alcohol support
• Forward Connect (peer-led community)
• Recovery support