Volunteer mentors from the Bristol area run a 13 week programme for young men involved with, or at risk of becoming involved with, the CJS. It begins with a rights-of-passage weekend in which the underlying reasons for offending behaviour are challenged and the young men set personal goals. There follows 12 weeks of 1-1 mentoring and weekly circles with all participants (mentors & mentees). At the end, the young men are celebrated at a ceremony in front of family, friends and local dign

Abandofbrothers Bristol exists to provide young men in the Bristol area with the support they need to transition to an adulthood free of crime and full of purpose, meaning and connection. Many of the young men we work with have been - or are at risk of becoming - involved with the Criminal Justice System.

In Bristol we welcome around 20 young men per year onto our programme. After completing the programme, they become part of the local ABOB community which provides ongoing support to all graduates of the programme and practical help with finding employment and securing accommodation. In the most recent evaluation we found that our programme dramatically reduces re-offending and unemployment.