The end of year reflection workshop on the 9 December 2025 brought together Delivery Partners, (Make Change, A Father’s Child, Motivatemetees, Bouncing Statistics and Making Change Studios), Clinical Inequality Leads, QBQ Research & Consultancy and Catalyst Pathway to Independence staff to review experiences within the Pathway to Independence programme.
Pathways to Independence: Co-production, empowerment and community
Site Admin • 5 February 2026
source:
Catalyst/Maria Adebisi
published: 4 February 2026
In October 2024, Catalyst 4 Change commissioned six community organisations to deliver programmes for patients in Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust’s medium secure units that would support their journey towards independence. It has been a year since the
Pathways to Independence Project, also known as Sustainable Community Initiative (SCI), began in earnest.
Last year the programme supported 143 service users towards transitioning into the community through a wide range of activities. These activities include unique offerings that have never been brought into the forensic setting before, such as employability, soft archery, yoga, podcasting & music production. These activities were delivered at medium secure care wards and at a Community Hub in Erdington for service users living in the community.
The Pathways to Independence programme has the following aims and objectives:
- Supporting patients to connect with communities
- Improve patient agency and wellbeing
- Co-production in-patient care planning
- Cultural Competency & Staff Development
As we begin our second year we reflect on our major highlights and learnings from our pilot year. The emerging themes from last year’s delivery are:
- Co-production
- Confidence
- Empowerment
- Personal Development
Above all, the Pathways to Independence programme demonstrated co-production in action by regularly bringing together Trust staff and community groups to clarify processes, strengthen communication, identify gaps, and ensure safe trauma-informed delivery. Between 2022-2023 service users were consulted so that programmes could be designed for their needs.
During delivery patients have been empowered to select from a wide range of activities. Service users have also been regularly consulted throughout the programme using tools designed by Catalyst to ensure that activities provided meet their current needs.
Patients remarked that the weekly sessions gave them ‘a sense of purpose’ and ‘achievement’. Many also commented that the community delivery partners created ‘safe’ spaces that ‘helped them speak about their feelings in song’ and ‘feel less stressed out’. Their progress in these courses have been celebrated through showcases on the ward. The next showcase will be taking place in Ardenleigh on 11 March 2026.
Rohon Webber a Clinical Inequalities lead at Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust who supervises the programmes said the following on co-production:
“My experience of working with the Pathway to Independence programme delivering co-production with our secure care service users has been a breath of fresh air. Service users that engaged in the programme have reported having a positive experience, as they were able to be themselves without being judged; felt listened to which gives them a sense of purpose and belonging.”
A more comprehensive report highlighting the impact of the programme will be produced by our independent evaluators, QBQ Research Consultancy in March 2026.
For more information about the programme, contact:
maria.adebisi@catalyst4change.co.uk
The new Mental Health Act, which has received Royal Assent, will address racial disparities in mental health treatment through clearer guidance for professionals and improved performance.
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