Our group sessions provide a structured, supportive space where participants are encouraged to engage in open dialogue. These sessions explore a range of issues—from identity and decision-making to the consequences of violence, drugs and exploitation—and are carefully tailored to meet the age, experience, and emotional maturity of those involved. Through honest conversations and peer-led discussions, participants develop critical thinking skills, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of their past choices and future possibilities.

At the core of our work is one-to-one mentoring—a personalised and trauma-informed approach that builds trust, resilience, and aspiration. Our experienced mentors walk alongside each individual, offering guidance, support, and a consistent presence. These relationships are designed to empower participants, helping them to navigate the complexities of their personal histories and to envision positive, meaningful futures.

For wider impact, On The Verge also delivers group workshops. These sessions confront key issues such as County Lines, Knife Crime, Gang Culture, Joint Enterprise, Decision Making, Conflict Resolution, Restorative Practice, Positive and Negative Peers and Social Media. By creating space for reflection and discussion, these sessions challenge harmful narratives and plant the seeds for change on a broader scale.

Our programme is a structured initiative with a clear aim: to identify, support, and positively influence those at risk of reoffending, violence and exploitation. By combining tailored mentoring with targeted group work and large-scale interventions, we deliver a comprehensive and impactful approach to rehabilitation and personal development within the prison system.

• Trauma-informed care
• Safe, non-judgemental spaces for reflection
• Skilled mentors who understand the impact of ACEs

• Support in rebuilding a positive sense of self
• Opportunities to explore identity, purpose, and values
• Validation of personal strengths and potential

• Mentors with credibility who understand gang dynamics
• Alternative pathways to respect, belonging, and purpose
• Strategies to resist peer pressure and manage conflict

• Tools for managing anger, anxiety, and frustration
• Space to practise healthy coping mechanisms
• Guided conversations that model emotional expression

• Consistent, authentic relationships with trusted adults
• A non-authoritarian, peer-based approach
• Empowerment rather than correction

• Structured goal setting and future planning
• Ongoing mentorship post-release
• Links to positive networks, employment, and education

How On The Verge Meets These Needs:

• Relatable mentors with lived experience or cultural competence
• Flexible, responsive delivery that adapts to the pace and needs of individuals
• Holistic model combining group dialogue and personal mentoring
• Focus on critical issues like exploitation, masculinity, violence, and identity
• Empowerment ethos that centres growth, not punishment

• Understanding cultural identity and intersectionality
• The impact of race, class, and religion on lived experience
• Unconscious bias and microaggressions in custodial settings
• Communicating across cultures: language, norms, and respect
• Working with adults & young people who identify with subcultures (e.g., drill, street culture)

• What trauma looks like in custody
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and behavioural triggers
• Creating psychologically safe environments
• Avoiding re-traumatisation during interactions
• Building trust and de-escalation techniques

• Principles of restorative justice
• Facilitating restorative conversations
• Repairing relationships between staff and both adults & young people
• Shifting the culture from punishment to accountability

• The value of peer-led work in rehabilitation
• Navigating prison hierarchies and power structures
• How lived experience professionals support staff and prisoners
• Building bridges, not barriers

• Continued Mentorship & Guidance – Helping individuals navigate life outside prison with ongoing support.
• Employment & Skills Development – Assisting with job readiness, training, and securing meaningful employment.
• Community Reintegration Support – Connecting individuals with resources for housing, mental health services, and community engagement.

Early intervention is crucial in reducing reoffending. While individuals are in prison, we provide tailored programs that focus on personal development, mindset shifts, and practical skills to prepare them for life beyond incarceration. Through mentoring, education, and rehabilitation initiatives, we aim to empower individuals to make better choices, develop resilience, and foster a sense of self-worth.