Experts by Experience

In this episode of Experts by Experience, producer Jess Hart takes on the role of host as she speaks with mother‑and‑son duo Annette and Ryan.

Annette and Ryan discuss growing up neurodiverse in systems that overlooked their needs — and the emotional toll on families who aren’t listened to. They share how mislabelling, masking and missed support shaped their journeys, and how one person believing in you can change everything.

In our latest episode, Mariam sits down with with Blood Red Sky author, Sara Cullen, for a powerful conversation exploring youth justice, care experience, poverty, and the systems that shape young people’s lives.

Drawing on her background in teaching and public protection, Sara shares why compassion, dignity, and early support are essential for change. 

This human-centred conversation is for anyone interested in storytelling, criminal justice, or the power of understanding.

Women make up just 4% of the UK prison population, which means their voices and experiences are too often overlooked in conversations about criminal justice.

Today’s episode of the Experts by Experience podcast is tackling a topic that can feel daunting: disclosure.

What is disclosure? When do you need to do it? Why can it be so stressful? And how can we make the process as straightforward and fair as possible?

In this episode, Nic speaks with Rik and Darren, both of whom have lived experience of the criminal justice system and know first-hand what it’s like to navigate disclosure when trying to rebuild your life.

Nic speaks with OB about his experiences which led him to prison and what positive changes he wants to see in the system.

In the Experts by Experience podcast, Catch22 gives a platform to the voices that matter the most—those with lived experience. Hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS), each episode explores different social challenges and reform ideas through conversations with service users, frontline workers, and industry leaders.

This season emphasises the importance of lived experience in shaping better public services;highlighting real stories of resilience, transformation, and giving back. Whether it’s entrepreneurship, challenging stereotypes, or finding creative outlets, each episode provides valuable insights into the ways public services can evolve to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

Trigger warning: Please be aware that today's episode references suicide and suicidal ideation.

In today's episode, Nic speaks with Simon about finding hope in prison and the importance of kindness.

In the Experts by Experience podcast, Catch22 gives a platform to the voices that matter the most—those with lived experience. Hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS), each episode explores different social challenges and reform ideas through conversations with service users, frontline workers, and industry leaders. This season emphasises the importance of lived experience in shaping better public services;highlighting real stories of resilience, transformation, and giving back. Whether it’s entrepreneurship, challenging stereotypes, or finding creative outlets, each episode provides valuable insights into the ways public services can evolve to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

In today's episode, Nic speaks with Carl (C.Roots) about the importance of creativity.

This season of #Catch22Minutes, Experts by Experience, is hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). 

Each episode Nic will be speaking with service users from across our justice services to explore a variety of topics, as well as the value of lived experience. 

In today's episode, Nic speaks with Gavin about the value in giving back to younger versions of ourselves.

This season of #Catch22Minutes, Experts by Experience, is hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). 

Each episode Nic will be speaking with service users from across our justice services to explore a variety of topics, as well as the value of lived experience. 

In today's episode, Nic speaks with three guests on their unique experiences with stereotyping in the criminal justice system.

This season of #Catch22Minutes, Experts by Experience, is hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). 

Each episode Nic will be speaking with service users from across our justice services to explore a variety of topics, as well as the value of lived experience. 

In today’s episode, Nic and her guest speak about the importance of taking ownership of the unique experiences that we each go through.

This season of #Catch22Minutes, Experts by Experience, is hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). 

Each episode Nic will be speaking with service users from across our justice services to explore a variety of topics, as well as the value of lived experience. 

In today’s episode, Nic speaks with Naeem on his experience with entrepreneurship, staying motivated, and how he started his own business. 

This season of #Catch22Minutes, Experts by Experience, is hosted by Nic, a Team Leader within Catch22’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). 

Each episode Nic will be speaking with service users from across our justice services to explore a variety of topics, as well as the value of lived experience. 

In today's episode, we will be discussing Jobcentre Plus, the punitive approach that we have been seeing when it comes to supporting people back to work, and what this says about the UK's welfare policy.

In Catch22's manifesto, we are calling for the government to revolutionise Jobcentre Plus so that, alongside other employment related services, they become a place where people are supported into careers rather than placed into ‘any job.’

Joining Stella to discuss the issues around Jobcentre Plus and welfare policy is Tom O'Grady, Associate Professor of Politics at University College London.

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The debate around fixed term recalls reflects the broader tensions within criminal justice policy between punitive and rehabilitative approaches, and between the imperatives of public safety and individual rights. These debates are particularly important when we are thinking about the context of rising prison populations in the UK, with concerns about the sustainability of the current system and the effectiveness of existing policies in reducing reoffending rates and supporting the rehabilitation of offenders.

To discuss the issues around fixed term recalls, Stella is joined by Miranda Shanks, Policy and Communications Manager for Justice and Education at Catch22.

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Charity campaigning will never be as well-resourced as lobbying by the private sector. However, with increasing government cuts and the current cost-of-living crisis, the charity sector is working under increasing financial constraints, meaning charitable organisations have to be even more strategic in how they try to influence government policy. 

In this episode, Stella is joined by Babs Williams, CEO of Frontline, and a public policy analyst, to explore different strategies for influencing government, and considerations that should be made.

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In Catch22’s Manifesto, we are calling for the government to invest in ‘digital skills for work’ programmes for the UK workforce, to ensure that every person is equipped for the future world of work.

In today’s episode, Stella is joined by Carolina Saludes, a Global Campaign Strategist at PwC, to explore the current challenges and opportunities in the UK job market, why digital skills and training and upskilling are needed for the future of work, and the use of AI in the wider labour market. 

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In today's episode, Stella is joined by Dr Elisabeth Carter, a Criminologist and Forensic Linguist. Dr Carter analyses communications between fraudsters and victims to understand how people can become victims of this crime, and uses her findings to improve victim support.

Stella and Dr Carter discuss what romance fraud is, the tactics used by criminals, the impact it has on its victims, and who should be responsible for protecting the public from this crime.

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In today's episode we will be focusing on how AI (artificial intelligence) is used in public services and the hiring process; the challenges, the dangers, and of course, the opportunities.

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we’ll be discussing the campaign to make care experience a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act 2010.

Many care experienced people face discrimination, stigma, and prejudice in their day-to-day lives. Public perceptions of care experience centre on the idea that children are irredeemably damaged and that can lead to discrimination and assumptions being made. We want to see the next Government commit to supporting care experienced young people through bold national policies, so they are given the best chance to succeed in life.

For millions of people in the UK, drug taking is a normal day of everyday life, from drinking alcohol or caffeine, to taking a paracetamol for a headache. For some though, drug taking is a serious problem, often having a devastating effect on the individual’s life and the lives of those around them. Latest statistics show that over 20% of people the age of 16-24 have taken an illicit drug. Around 7% are known to have taken a Class A drug, deemed to be the most dangerous, and around 18% have taken cannabis, a Class B drug. 

In today’s discussion we explore how much of a problem substance misuse is amongst young people. We ask what can be done to support young people struggling with substance misuse, and how the often conflicting messages in the media about what is and isn’t harmful can cause challenges when tackling drug and substance misuse. 

Joining us for this discussion is Julie Poling, Service Manager for Hampshire 24/7 Young People’s Substance Misuse Service, and Katy Bumstead, Service Manager for Surrey Young People’s Substance Misuse Service. 

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we take a look at how we can rethink the approach to young people's mental health services through one of our own services, The Hive. The Hive is a free mental health and wellbeing service that supports all young people age 16-24 in London. Based at The Hive building in Camden, they support young people with mental health, personal development, health and wellbeing, sexual health, employment and education, and substance misuse. The Hive delivers support in a combination of 1 to 1 sessions, group work, a sexual health clinic, and crucially, through a social hub. Essentially, the Hive delivers mental health support to young people in a very different way. 

To explore The Hive model and to discuss its effectiveness, we are joined by Krystal Donaldson, Service Manager at the Hive, and Katie Clayton, Clinical Team Lead for Camden and Islington NHS Trust. 

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we’ll be exploring what safeguarding actually means in practice and why it’s so important. We’ll also be looking at the inequity that can occur in safeguarding and ask why some groups are sometimes safeguarded better than others.

Safeguarding involves taking measures to protect the health, wellbeing, and human rights of individuals. This allows young people, children, and vulnerable adults to live free from abuse, harm, and neglect. When safeguarding goes wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic, but when it is done well, it allows some of the most vulnerable in society to live safely and to thrive.

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we’ll be discussing county lines. For children and young people who are victims of county lines activity the impact on their lives, and the lives of those around them, can be devastating. We know that grooming techniques are becoming more advanced, and that escaping the clutches of these perpetrators can be incredibly difficult. What techniques are perpetrators using to lure children into county lines activity? Why are victims seemingly getting younger? What is being done to support children and young people being caught up in county lines activity? And what can be done to tackle it?

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we'll be discussing the topic of online harms. The online world presents huge opportunities for finding purpose, connection, and community. Our world heavily relies on the internet in order to find work, to connect with services, to be entertained, to keep in touch with loved ones. But the online world can also present significant risks for children and young people. It’s a fast moving space, and the threat of online grooming and exposure to harmful content is undoubtedly growing. 

We are joined by Vicky Young, Senior Helpline Manager at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, and Sarah Parker, Research Development Officer for the Young People, Families, and Communities Hub at Catch22. 

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we'll be discussing the topic of care-leavers and criminalisation. Why is it that while care-leavers aged 16-18 make up less than 1% of the under-18 population, estimates suggest that over 25% of young offenders, and over 50% of people in secure children's centres have been in care. What are the factors that mean young people in care are more likely to be criminalised than those outside the care system? What support is available to them? And ultimately, how can the numbers of care-experienced children and young people being criminalised be reduced? 

We are joined by Ben Twomey, Director of Policy and Communications at the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), and Victoria Odude, Steering Group Representative at the Young People's Benchmarking Forum (YPBMF).

In this episode of Catch22Minutes, we explore how and why children go missing, how it can be prevented, and the signs that a missing episode may be linked to exploitation. We cover what to do if you’re worried that a child is missing, and discuss the response to missing children, including the good, and not so good, practice that can make a real difference as to whether a child goes missing again.

We are joined by Josie Allan, Senior Partnerships and Policy Manager at Missing People, and James Simmonds Read, National Prevention Programme Manager at The Children’s Society.