Pathways to Independence: Supporting recovery in secure care
source:
Catalyst/Sandra Griffiths
published: 9 May 2026
The Pathway to Independence programme was launched in October 2024, led by Catalyst 4 Change on behalf of Birmingham Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT). The programme has piloted voluntary sector-led activities across secure care wards and a community hub to improve recovery, reduce restrictive practices, and support transitions into community life.
The programme worked in four secure units (Ardenleigh, Hillis Lodge, Reaside, Tamarind) and created a community-based Hub, delivering co-designed recreational, vocational and mentoring offers.
In December 2026 Catalyst and BSMHFT commissioned QBQ Research & Consultancy to undertake an evaluation of the
first year of the programme delivery covering the period October 2024 to October 2025.
A network of six voluntary-sector organisations delivered a diverse portfolio of programmes:
- Make Change ran sport activities
- Making Change delivered podcasting and music-production
- Cultural Connections delivered an employability programme
- Motivatemetees provide one-to-one mentoring, wellbeing and creative workshops, and signposting to community services
- A Father Child offers mindfulness activities (e.g., colouring), yoga/physical exercise and other creative activities
- Bouncing Statistics delivers yoga, creative activities and employability support
Research Findings
Between February 2025 when delivery began until October 2025, the programme delivered 143 sessions in podcasting and music production, sport, creative expression, and employability training. It also ran a Community Hub at Erdington Baptist Church, offering mindful colouring, Pilates, mentoring, and creative workshops. Six monthly hub sessions were held between March 2025 and September 2025.
Qualitative evidence indicated meaningful benefits. Service users reported feeling listened to, respected, and more confident. Activities enhanced trust and emotional wellbeing. Voluntary organisations received consistently positive feedback on cultural relevance and relational approaches.
The employability produced tangible readiness for discharge: service users developed CVs, interview skills and SMART goals that clinicians reported as useful for community teams. Creative outputs, including podcasts, music and poetry, have also been used in clinical sessions to facilitate discussions about emotions, aiding therapeutic engagement.
Staff and delivery partners reported immediate de-escalation effects from sessions. Individual monitoring from Tamarind suggested incident reductions for at least one participant during sustained engagement. Staff observed that structured, voluntary activities help emotional regulation and reduce the number of situations likely to escalate.
The programme strengthened links to community organisations and practical support; examples include a service user that requested using Section 17 leave to attend Making Change’s community studio, and a delivery partner who offered free bus passes to service users via West Midlands Travel—small interventions that remove access barriers and enable independence.
Staff reported improved relationships with service users through shared activities. Joint sessions (e.g., yoga with service users and staff) promoted a calmer ward atmosphere, enhanced staff insight into lived experience, and supported therapeutic relationship building.
Early evidence shows the Pathway to Independence can enhance individual readiness for discharge, foster community connections and improve ward dynamics through voluntary, culturally responsive activities. With strengthened targeting, improved data collection and tailored wraparound supports, the model has promising potential for wider replication across the Trust.
For more information about our Pathway to Independence programme please contact: Sandra Griffiths (Programmes & Partnership Director)
sandra.griffiths@catalyst4change.org.uk
