Practice Transfer Focus 2026
In corrections, meaningful change rarely spreads on its own. Effective work may begin in one prison, one programme, or one community team—yet never reach the people and places that need it next.
For that reason, the Practice Transfer Advisory Committee’s 2026 theme is Mental Health & Lived Experience.
This year, we are prioritising practice transfer where it has the greatest impact: strengthening mental health support in corrections, informed and guided by people with lived experience of the system.
What to expect in the months ahead
- Practical, evidence-informed approaches that work in real-world settings—ready to use, adapt, and share.
- Lived experience recognised as expertise, because the most effective solutions are developed with those most affected.
- Resource releases designed for immediate application, including tools and recommended reading to support implementation in your jurisdiction.
In September 2026, we will host webinar, bringing together perspectives from across the UK and Ireland, including lived experience speakers, to examine how peer support operates in different systems, and what is required to ensure it is safe, credible, and effective.
Resources
Mental Health Awarness Week - Interview with Tassie Ghilani and Andrew Hundley
PTAC Webinar: Not Just Criminals – From Service Users to System Enablers
This session reframes people in the justice system beyond the label of “criminals”, centring lived experience of trauma, distress, and recovery. Drawing directly on service user insight, it highlights what enables engagement and change, feeling safe to speak, everyday mental health support, and consistent, respectful relationships. It argues that peer support and lived experience are not add‑ons, but essential to building trust, recognising distress, and supporting rehabilitation within risk-led systems.
What Happens When Services Listen: Peer Support Lessons from Ireland
In this blog post and the video, Ireland offers four powerful lessons in what happens when services are built around those who have lived the experience themselves.