There is no reason to reinvent; just find yourself. For some time now, Mals Merseyside has been running an in reach programme for offenders in prison and for others in the community called The Life Change Programme.

The Life Change Programme in Action.

The course is designed to, using a mindful holistic approach, introspect and change from within. At first you could feel self-conscious and perhaps might feel it is all a bit “new age, or just wishful thinking.” However, the Life Change Programme has helped offenders in prison reduce re-offending successfully after supported release, with going on to get into employment, training or higher education. We can simply say with confidence, it works.

The Life Change Programme has worked, and continues to work, for many hundreds of clients that we have supported over the years. Our clients are not only ex-offenders though, but are victims of domestic abuse, some with addiction issues and others with mental health issues.

Does it categorically work all of the time? Absolutely not. The Life Change Programme can only work if the client wants a real and permanent change in their life, and importantly, gets involved in the process. The process is a deeply personal journey for every client and can be life changing, (hence the name). Many of our clients have had dysfunctional upbringings or psychological traumas that have affected their behaviour. Many of these behaviours are not always obvious to the client, and have over their lifetime, become patterned and ingrained, giving them a distorted world-view.

The good news is any behaviours can be changed; instantly! Lives can be rebuilt, broken relationships repaired, criminals can become productive and happy members of society again; some for the first time. This is a real rehabilitation of offenders in action, not just locking them away and hoping they will reflect on their sins. What if their sins are part of a learned behaviour and behavioural pattern? This is not just liberal or wishful thinking. What you might see as criminality and wrong, someone else can see as playing the odds or survival; not sparing a thought for the victims. Do we turn our backs on people who have dysfunctional thinking, have made wrong life choices or whose values are not the same as our own? The answer is no!

Mals Merseyside is looking to find a wider audience for the Life Change Programme by putting it online. We are currently seeking donors to enable us to provide an online interactive course. Working with our partners, we want to together put this course in the hands of those who want to change their lives but cannot access a programme such as ours.

If you are a forward thinking philanthropist looking to invest in our Life Change Programme, please contact the CEO of Mals Merseyside, Clare Donohue at clare@malsmerseyside.co.uk. Donations in money, time (as volunteers) and practical material support are always very welcome. Support the Life Change Programme and change lives forever.