Build trust gradually
Trust is developed through consistency, choice and genuine interest in what matters to the young person. Engagement is not demanded or rushed.
Moving MindSpace · Personalised support
Justice Support & Crisis Prevention
Relationship-led, interest-based mentoring for young people aged 10 to 25 who may be at risk of, or already involved with, youth justice, exclusion, exploitation or escalating conflict.
Understanding before judgement
A young person’s behaviour may communicate distress, fear, unmet need or an attempt to cope with experiences that have not yet been understood.
Trauma, anxiety, communication differences, neurodivergence, unmet SEN needs, exclusion and difficult experiences can all affect how a young person responds to people, services and situations.
We begin with curiosity, respect and the young person’s perspective. The aim is to understand what may be happening around them and build support from there.
Early and relationship-led support
Who this support may help
Support may be considered where a young person is:
- At risk of exclusion or disengaging from education
- Experiencing repeated conflict or difficulties with relationships
- At risk of exploitation or unsafe peer influence
- In contact with youth justice services or at risk of becoming involved
- Finding it difficult to engage with traditional or assessment-led services
- Experiencing unmet communication, SEND or neurodivergence-related needs
- Needing support to recognise difficult situations and explore safer responses
- Looking for positive interests, opportunities or future goals
Every enquiry is considered individually. We do not assume that one programme or approach will suit every young person.
Connection before correction
How support works
Start with their interests
Gaming, art, music, digital media and other interests can provide a starting point for communication, connection and shared activity.
Adapt the approach
Sessions are adapted to the young person’s communication, sensory and engagement needs, including where formal or school-like approaches have not worked.
Agree realistic priorities
The young person, family and relevant professionals can identify practical priorities and review them as needs and circumstances change.
What support may explore
Depending on the young person’s needs, mentoring may explore:
- Emotional awareness and recognising difficult situations
- Communication and relationships
- Conflict, choices and safer responses
- Confidence, identity and strengths
- Positive interests and community opportunities
- Education, routines and future goals
- Asking for help and identifying trusted adults
The focus is on relationship-building, engagement and achievable progress. Support is personalised and will not follow a fixed script.
Working alongside families and professionals
Parents, carers, schools, local authorities, youth justice professionals and other services can enquire.
Where appropriate, and with suitable consent and information-sharing arrangements, we can work alongside those already involved so that the young person receives joined-up support.
Safeguarding responsibilities, referral suitability, delivery arrangements and the scope of support are considered individually before work begins.
Moving MindSpace mentoring complements rather than replaces statutory safeguarding, clinical treatment, legal advice or specialist youth justice interventions.
The people behind our approach
Meet Chris Cooper
Neurodiversity & Custodial Inclusion Specialist | Trainer | Keynote Speaker
Chris is one of Moving MindSpace’s directors and is also a parent of a child with SEN. His lived experience helps shape an approach that looks beyond behaviour and focuses on trust, communication, strengths and the circumstances surrounding each young person.
Chris helps shape Moving MindSpace’s Justice Support & Crisis Prevention service and its focus on early support, relationship-building and realistic opportunities.
Chris brings nearly a decade of experience in the UK prison service, working across both youth and adult custody as an Officer and Custodial Manager. He developed and now delivers neurodiversity training across the prison estate and successfully led the creation of a neurodiverse support unit within his local establishment, securing funding for additional resources independently.
The person providing support will be discussed as part of the enquiry and matching process, taking account of the young person’s needs, suitability and availability.
Meet Chris and our directors →Progress at the young person’s pace
What progress can look like
Progress may begin with a young person choosing to join a session, sharing an interest, recognising an emotion, asking for help or trying a different response in a difficult moment.
Goals should be realistic, personalised and reviewed with the young person and the people appropriately involved.
We cannot guarantee a particular justice outcome, reduced reoffending or a specific timescale for change. We can provide consistent, relationship-led support focused on engagement, strengths and opportunities.
Important service boundaries
Justice Support & Crisis Prevention is a mentoring and early-support service. It is not an emergency response service, legal service, clinical treatment service or replacement for statutory youth justice or safeguarding responsibilities.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Urgent safeguarding concerns should be reported to the appropriate local authority safeguarding service or the police.
Referral suitability and any identified risks will be considered before support begins. Moving MindSpace may not be the appropriate service for every situation.
Questions families and professionals often ask
Does a young person need to be involved with youth justice?
No. Support may also be considered where there are emerging concerns, risks of exclusion, exploitation, escalating conflict or circumstances that could increase the likelihood of justice-system involvement.
Who can make an enquiry?
Parents, carers, schools, local authorities, youth justice professionals and other relevant services can enquire. We will discuss the young person’s circumstances, consent, suitability and the proposed scope of support.
How are sessions provided?
Support is currently provided online through personalised one-to-one mentoring. The approach is adapted around the young person’s communication, interests and engagement needs.
Is this an emergency or crisis-response service?
No. Despite the service name, Moving MindSpace does not provide an emergency response. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Urgent safeguarding concerns should be reported to the appropriate local authority safeguarding service or the police.
Start with understanding
Make an enquiry →Talk to us about what is happening.
Tell us about the young person’s circumstances and what support is being sought. We will discuss suitability, possible next steps and the scope of support before any work begins.