Pecan: moving on

This case study follows one woman’s progress with a Pecan mentor, overcoming multiple health challenges and other barriers to set and achieve her own goals for her life. Pecan’s Moving On programme is a one-to-one mentoring service supporting women aged 18-25 through the transition from prison into the community, and for up to a year after their release. Women in contact with the criminal justice system suffer from significant health inequalities and other disadvantages, and to overcome these requires person-centred, gender-specific support which takes into account their individual needs, strengths and choices. Mentors can provide non-judgemental advice and guidance, foster women’s self-belief and problem-solving abilities, and ultimately support them in their rehabilitation and desistance from crime.