As 2025 draws to a close, we are reflecting on an extraordinary year of transformation at Safe New Futures. Every day, we witness the resilience, determination and courage of the young people and adults who come through our doors. Many arrive facing profound challenges — unemployment, anxiety, isolation, low confidence or the long shadow of past experiences — but they leave with renewed hope and a clear sense of direction.
This year, more people than ever turned to Safe New Futures for support. 404 referrals were made between January and October alone. Of these,
- 279 pre-course conversations were arranged
- 246 people attended,
- 215 enrolled, and
- 184 started the programme
Most importantly, 157 people completed our five-week course, demonstrating commitment, courage and a desire for change.
Mental health & confidence: life-changing improvements
Our CBT-based programme continues to deliver powerful, measurable improvements in wellbeing:
- Self-esteem increased by 39.4%, with 82.9% of participants improving
- Confidence grew by 20.2%
- Job-search readiness increased by 28.9%, supporting people to move forward with purpose
- Depression scores reduced by 24.9%, and
- Anxiety decreased by 23.8%, with nearly 70% seeing improvement
These changes are not just numbers, they represent people rediscovering their worth, rebuilding motivation, reconnecting with others and believing in their future again.
Education, training and employment: real progression
From January to June 2025, participants achieved strong outcomes across work, learning and volunteering:
- 19% moved into employment
- 17% into training,
- 14% into volunteering,
- 3% into education, and
- Many others are now actively job-seeking with renewed confidence and clarity
Each of these outcomes represents a life moving forward, a young person re-engaging with learning, an adult returning to work after years of unemployment, or someone rediscovering motivation after a long period of feeling stuck.
A huge thank you
This year’s achievements would not have been possible without:
- Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers
- Our former participants who now help shape the programme
- Our valued partners in councils, NHS ICBs, Jobcentres, schools and community organisations
- Our funders and supporters who make our work sustainable
And most of all: our participants, who show us daily what resilience truly looks like.
As we look ahead to next year, we remain committed to empowering people to rethink their lives, gain control, and step into a future that is right for them. Thank you for being part of the journey.