our story
In March 2022, David Dunn was released from HMP Preston after completing his sentence as a mentor on the drug and alcohol recovery unit of the prison. Upon release, David knew he had to find something to keep him busy to help prevent a relapse to addiction. He returned to Preston jail to decorate a lounge to be used by men leaving the prison. During this time, David saw the desperate circumstances many people were released to. Some were released homeless, without clothes, food, and toiletries. Many didn't know how to get to public transport links or to their day of release appointments, above all, very few had hope for a better future.
David decided to offer help where he could. Sourcing donations from local churches and charities, David soon needed help to support prison leavers. He recruited other prison leavers in recovery from addiction to volunteer alongside him. Altruism is at the core of most recovery models meaning volunteers benefitted as well as people leaving prison. It became clear that people leaving prison wanted to talk to prison who had left prison and gone on to achieve positive change. The value of shared experiences became important.
Release Mates had been created. In late 2022, David registered Release Mates as a Community Interest Company. It received it's first funding from The Company of Weavers, and was ready to grow and support as many people as possible.
By mid-2023, Release Mates had gained traction. In a struggling criminal justice system with prisons and probation bursting at the seams, here was a lived experience solution to reducing reoffending.
After success at The Stephen Lloyd Awards in 2023, Release Mates began to thrive. Later that year, Release Mates opened its first departure lounge at another prison. It quickly became a success, as did Release Mates' full day-of-release package. This is now enhanced by the long-term mentoring of Abby's Army. The recent development of Release Mates Women makes the service more widely available and tailored to each individual we support.
Now registered as a charity, Release Mates has combined two areas of lived experience together with meaningful, practical support to deliver an unrivalled through the gate and beyond experience for its beneficiaries.