Sussex Pathways has been honoured with The Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK....

A young woman working alone in a betting shop in Brighton was robbed. The young man who robbed her grabbed the collar of her jacket and forced her into the staff area. She fell to the floor, he pulled her top up, then took £210 from her pocket. He had also taken £105 from the cashier’s drawer. The young man was sentenced to three years in prison and has spent almost all of that time in HMP Lewes. A referral for Restorative Justice was received from the young woman who wanted

This month has seen the best of the best with the ACEVOFest, two days of great speakers, interactions, and networking. A couple of things came to the forefront for me: one was equality, and if you look at the picture below, it highlights the importance of equality, both in our workplaces and in our lives. It captures multiple dimensions of equality and illustrates how we can and should address it at every level. The other thing was, as CEOs, we often feel that everything rest

Over the past month, we delivered a series of condensed 2.5‑hour Kintsugi workshops across Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton probation services, held during their women‑only drop‑in days. Although shorter than our full course, these sessions created a deeply meaningful space for reflection, creativity and connection. Exploring the Philosophy of Kintsugi We began by introducing the philosophy behind Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold. The women e

On 24 th  March Karren (our Business Manager) and myself had the opportunity to attend ACEVOFest in Wembley.  ACEVOFest is a festival of ideas, support and inspiration for charity CEO’s and aspiring CEO’s, where honest and open sharing allows for creation of a greater understanding of our roles in civil society. We had the opportunity to talk with exhibitors about supporting each other and collaborating to make the charity sector a stronger and better place for everyone and o

Close up photo of flowers and and grass.

We survived January storms and rains and now we look forward to what February has in store for us. While I can't predict the weather, I can predict exciting plans for Sussex Pathways as we enter the next stage of our housing project. We have had so much sound advice and guidance from many existing housing providers, and we cannot thank them enough. We must also give a huge thank you to Helen, our amazing volunteer, who has taken up researching and scoping for the project; her

Volunteer George supported a Sussex Pathways client following his release from HMP Lewes in May 2025 through to September 2025. A keen and talented artist, the prison leaver recently had one of his artworks selected for a major national exhibition curated by poet and playwright Inua Ellams. The piece, titled Yard View , was displayed as part of Koestler Arts: Night Owls and Abstractions , held at the Southbank Centre in London from Friday 31 October to Sunday 14 December 2025

I’ve been a mentor for Sussex Pathways for a year, and I’m very grateful to have an insight into the lives of those who have experienced things such as alcohol or substance abuse, engaged in criminal activity or have grown up in poverty. Grateful, because it has taught me one thing that many in society can forget - these people are still human. Just before Christmas I pulled over to a gentleman who was on the floor and visibly in pain. He was communicating with me but complai

Wow, 2026 is here already! We leave behind the Easter eggs, strawberries and mince pies of 2025 and get ready to do it all over again (have you noticed that Easter eggs are in the shops already?). It's an exciting and challenging start to the new year for the Sussex Pathways team, with current projects expanding, new projects on the horizon, and changes to the justice system's recall policy to navigate. For me, this year brings with it a lot of unknowns, with a risk of chaos

At Sussex Pathways, our work centres on empowering people in the criminal justice system to rebuild their lives, reconnect with their communities and find sustainable pathways away from reoffending. Two of the most impactful strands of this work are our Through the Gate support and our group programmes: Pathways to Change  and Kintsugi. These approaches work together to increase confidence, emotional resilience, stability and a sense of self-worth, factors that are proven to

2025 has been an exceptionally busy year for Sussex Pathways - one of the busiest since we began in 2008 - and that is entirely down to the fantastic team we have on board. As it’s Christmas, I want to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on each of them and the incredible work they do. Paula, Chief Operating Officer My right-hand woman, without whom I would genuinely be lost. Paula has been with us for nearly a year and is worth her weight in gold. Paula what an incred

This Restorative Justice Week, Sussex Pathways is proud to announce the launch of a landmark initiative: the Damage and Repair Project , an oral history library capturing the voices and stories of key figures who have shaped restorative justice in the UK over the past two decades. Developed in collaboration with our sister charity Why Me , this project honours the evolution of restorative practice and the individuals who have tirelessly championed its principles of healing, a

Last month our CEO Shirl and COO Paula attended the Community Chaplaincy Association Conference and AGM in Westminster. The CCA is a national body supporting a nationwide network of chaplaincy projects that help reduce crime and build better futures. The day was filled with important updates and thought-provoking talks. It was great to hear that the CCA is now in a much stronger financial position, a positive sign for the year ahead. There was also a moment of change, as Ja

Recently, we received a heartfelt message from a former client that moved us deeply and reminded us why our work matters. This individual had been facing serious criminal charges, and during that time, he lost nearly everything: his home, his job, and the trust of family and friends. Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, he found a lifeline through Sussex Pathways. Through our in-prison programs, he engaged with restorative approaches that offered more than just practical suppor

This September, paintings created by men in Lewes Prison were on display at Lewes Quaker Meeting House as part of the town’s “Artwave”...

Earlier this month, Carly Baxter and Paula Lee represented Sussex Pathways at the inaugural Kintsugi conference held at the historic...

A big thank you to everyone from Sussex Pathways who gave up their time to support the the Lewes Crown Court Open Day on Saturday 13th...

Our longest-standing Trustee, Adrian Turner, reflects on his time working in the criminal justice system and the vital role that Sussex...

What an amazing Summer we have had. The sun has certainly shone on Sussex this summer, and now as we head to the Autumn season, walking...