The CFO Evolution programme will commence delivery on 1 August 2024. For current CFO delivery please contact your CFO Activity Hub providers or CFO3 providers.
- CFO Evolution will look like:
- 14 custody wings across England
- 15 community Activity Hubs (with up to 30 addition satellite hubs)
- 76 prison delivery locations (outliers and feeders)
Please visit the CFO Evolution map for details.
About the CFO Evolution Programme
The overall focus of HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) is to help offenders move towards mainstream provision or activity which reinforces the value of leading law-abiding lives, such as entering employment, education, training and interacting positively with their family and local community.
This is achieved through facilitating access to comprehensive support mechanisms appropriate to their individual circumstance and assessed need, and as such is a key delivery vehicle for MoJ Strategic Outcome 2: Reduce Reoffending.
CFO Evolution is not a standalone programme. It is designed to complement and support core HMPPS provision, increasing value for money from other projects and better preparing those socially excluded to make a positive contribution to society.
The CFO Evolution programme has four aims:
Aim 1: To provide a demonstrable sense of purpose for specific cohorts of offenders with complex needs by presenting them with clearly defined progression routes spanning both the custodial and community components of their total sentence.
Aim 2: To provide safe spaces where offenders can, and importantly are keen to, engage in a range of positive activities designed to foster community buy-in, increase wellbeing and develop the skills required to navigate through the array of issues that present barriers to successful community reintegration,
Aim 3: To increase effective engagement with mainstream or core services for those groups traditionally excluded,
Aim 4: To encourage participation in activities to assist individuals to lead law abiding lives.
Progression Route
The CFO Evolution programme will consist of a clearly defined progression route, either:
- Beginning in custody, moving through-the-gate, continuing into the community, and ultimately leading to successful community reintegration
- For those sentenced to community orders, beginning in the community and leading to stabilisation within that community
- For prison leavers, not engaged during custody, beginning in the community and leading to successful community reintegration
It will offer tailored support for offenders – particularly those who are considered disadvantaged, are ill-equipped to effectively engage with the mainstream, face barriers preventing them from successfully reintegrating into their local community, lack the hard and softer life/functional skills required by employers and are not fully supported by existing programmes. The provision is voluntary for participants.
Practical Support Available
Some of the most commonly provided support for participants accessing CFO services includes:
- Addressing wider barriers to accessing mainstream opportunities (addictions, low levels of literacy/numeracy, motivation and confidence levels, preparation for parole etc.)
- Overcoming practical obstacles (obtaining ID, registration with GP/dentist, support to retain or secure a tenancy)
- Additional skills (healthy living, money management, safeguarding, wellbeing etc.)
- Practical courses (vocational, basic skills, financial literacy etc.)
- Improving likelihood of securing employment (disclosure, CV creation, interview techniques, job applications, communication skills etc.)
- Preparation for re-entering the community (awareness/use of social media, appropriate peer groups, building networks etc.)
- Specific issues facing certain cohorts (care leavers, veterans, lifers/ISPs, PCOSOs etc.)
- Securing employment, training and education opportunities for release
- Through the gate support to ensure newly released individuals can continue accessing CFO services in one of the CFO Activity Hubs, or within the wider community
All delivery must complement and work alongside existing services in custody and the community.
CFO Evolution Providers
| Region | CFO Evolution Provider | Regional Overviews (click to download a read only version) |
| North West | Achieve | North West Regional Overview |
| North East | Ingeus | North East Regional Overview |
| Yorkshire and Humber | The Growth Company | Yorkshire and Humber Regional Overview |
| West Midlands | Ingeus | West Midlands Regional Overview |
| East Midlands | Ingeus | East Midlands Regional Overview |
| East of England | Shaw Trust | East of England Regional Overview |
| South West | Seetec | South West Regional Overview |
| South East / Kent, Surrey, Sussex | Shaw Trust | South East / Kent, Surrey, Sussex Regional Overview |
| London | Reed in Partnership | London Regional Overview |
Stakeholder engagement
If you are a stakeholder and have not received your briefing pack please email CFO-communications@justice.gov.uk and one will be sent out to you.
If you would like to sign up for email updates during the mobilisation phase; please complete your details on this form.
Please note that the CFO Evolution programme launches on 1st August and that regional providers may be different prior to this date.
Contact & referrals
For any questions specifically relating to the CFO Evolution programme, please email CFO-CMTEvolution@justice.gov.uk