ALPHA IMAGE 1.jpg — Why the
Bridge Programme?

Since CFPL (formerly CFEO) founded in 2004, men and women have been supported through mentoring to move forward with their lives after release from prison. In 2020 a process of reimagining began - reimagining the way we support prison leavers, reimagining church communities, reimagining the transformation of society. We asked ourselves the question:

What we can offer? The answer is simply: Jesus. It's all about Him.

We are all made in the image of God. Through the Bridge Programme we aim to encourage and empower people leaving prison to explore and grow in their Christian faith and character, and connect into church communities for ongoing support.

What is the Bridge Programme?

We aim to be a bridge, connecting prison leavers with church communities.

In 2021 we ran a pilot year of the Bridge Programme at Holy Trinity Brompton, London. The aims of the Bridge Programme remain the same but based on the pilot year and feedback we received, we are making some small changes for those starting the Bridge Programme in 2022:

6-month rolling programme of teaching, community, and coaching, enabling prison leavers to join at any point in the year
Focus on 3 tracks: Life, Character, Community; engaging with lifestyle, relationships, thinking and attitudes
Weekly Bridge Group sessions (a mixture of online and in person) and 1-2-1 coaching (in person where possible) based on biblical values
Testimony nights and community events
Character and Development certificate at 3 months
Graduation certificate at 6 months

Training will be offered in due course with Bridge Programme resource packs made available from 2023. Email us if you would like to find out more: hello@caringforprisonleavers.org

Life Track

**Seeking to live a lifestyle that is honouring to God**
*‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another’*
*John 13:34*

Character Track

**Seeking to be transformed by the renewing of our minds**
*‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’*
*Micah 6:8*

Community Track

**Seeking a loving attitude toward each other**
*‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus’*
*Philippians 2:5*

First Day of Freedom

We aim to be the friendly face meeting Bridge Programme participant on the day of release from prison, where possible

Welcome to the Bridge Programme!

Each person welcomed onto the Bridge Programme will meet with their Coach to begin building a relationship of trust and transparency

Weekly Group

We meet each week for fellowship, fun and family. Listening, inspiring and praying for one another is an integral part of the Bridge Programme, encouraging growth in faith and character

CFEO Promo v5 - screenshot 1.jpg — Coaching

Each person will meet weekly with their Coach for 1-2-1 coaching sessions. This is the space to discuss goals, personal aspirations and make progress on addressing any issues

3-month certificate

The first few months after release are often the hardest. We celebrate each person who completes the first 3 months of the Bridge Programme with participants receiving a certificate in Character and Development

htb church cong.png — Church

We aim to connect prison leavers into loving church communities

Graduation

Celebration time! We celebrate with participants who complete the 6-month Bridge Programme

Apply now, download our forms and make contact

I have lived experience of prison

I work as a Prison Chaplain

I am part of the Church

Testimonials

“This group, in my humble opinion, is a life saver. I look forward to every meeting like a fish gasping for water out of the ocean. Bridge is my family, and I go as far as to say it is my only family considering that my origin is from West Africa and I don’t have family in the UK.”

— Bridge Programme Graduate

“The 1-2-1 with my coach as a follow up to the group sessions is the icing on the cake. It is not only to reflect on previous meeting, but also gives one the chance to request personal needs or make suggestions.”

— Bridge Programme Graduate

“I have enjoyed the Bridge Programme socially, morally and spiritually. The Bridge Programme has brought me closer to God by bridging my previous life with the new. I am more prayerful than before and now read the bible more frequently. I enjoyed my coaching sessions which I seriously needed upon release, and also the moral support from fellow participants has been amazing. Above all, it has provided me with people I can call friends because they are trusted, reliable and have got my back.”

— Bridge Programme Graduate