Upside Throughcare

Pixie, a Community Worker in the Northern pod, was recently mentioned in a Holyrood magazine article about challenges faced by people leaving prison.

Read more about how Upside contributes to community reintegration at buff.ly/8ioB8cL

New week, new opportunities! Are you interested in a rewarding career in throughcare?

There are 2 days left to apply for this position with Barnardo's Scotland in Tayside.

For more information, go to buff.ly/ap9FlYZ (reference - 22339)

Interested in working with Upside?

Apex Scotland is looking for a full time Practitioner to join the team in Tayside.

For more information, visit www.apexscotland.org.uk/get-involved...

Closing date Sunday, 15th February.

Delighted to welcome Cabinet Secretary for Justice, @angelaconstance.bsky.social to Upside today to discuss progress and developments for the service, as well as presenting some valuable feedback we have collected from the people who have used Upside to date.

Wishing a very Happy New Year to our staff, supporters, partners, and all the people we work with and who need our support.

Upside Managers met at Impact Arts in Glasgow last week to discuss Emergency Early Release and make plans for 2026.

A big thanks to all Upsiders for your hard work this year! Grateful for an amazing team - enjoy the festive season.

Did you know that Upside is delivered by a partnership of eight national charities?

We work together using an innovative pod model that allows us to share expertise and respond to local throughcare needs.

Each pod has a monthly meeting - here is Pod 7, South Scotland, in Ayr!

Scotcast - ‘Ready to explode’: prisons and early release - BBC Sounds Inside HMP Barlinnie and emergency measures to tackle overcrowding.

Scotland's emergency early release programmes is examined in BBC Radio Scotland's 'Scotcast' podcast. Joe, one of our Prison Throughcare Workers in Barlinnie spoke to them about the challenges people face on release (20:51): buff.ly/YwJOVOS

Upside Community Workers recently visited HMP Grampian to attend their Throughcare Open Day, part of Prisoners' Week.

A great chance to share what we do and connect with colleagues in housing, recovery, peer support, and family services! #throughcare #prisonersweek #HMPGrampian

We recently held our first Upside Voices sessions across the country: opportunities for the people we support to share their views and influence the design and delivery of our service.

Here, two of our Voices Champions explain why this is so important to them.

The Upside team were delighted to be invited along to the launch event for Prisoners Week Scotland, held at Lethan St Marks in Perth. The marketplace was a fantastic opportunity to meet with other service providers and promote the work of Upside.

#PrisonersWeek #Crossroads

Although we understand the need for Emergency Early Release, lessons must be learned from the process. Inadequate pre-release planning is a major worry for the wellbeing and outcomes for those released. buff.ly/jHYvwS6

Upside staff made a massive effort yesterday to ensure - as far as possible - people were not left unsupported as a result of the first Emergency Early Release. Huge thanks to them all for their dedication and resilience on such a challenging day.

It's six months today since we launched Upside. So far we have taken over 500 helpline calls and supported more than 1100 people leaving prison all across Scotland. This is vital help for people returning to their communities; prepared, supported and safe. buff.ly/YiPXWrA

Michael: Supporting a Young Person’s Rehabilitation Through Family Engagement and Holistic Care — UpSide This case illustrates the critical role of family relationships in motivating change for young people in custody. It also highlights the importance of building trust between support workers and…

Family relationships can be critical in motivating change for young people in custody. Upside can help to strengthen family connections when needed. www.upside.scot/case-studies...

Susie: The Importance of Building Trust — UpSide Susie is a woman in her thirties. She hasn’t had her own home for over five years, and struggles with alcohol and other drugs in the community. Susie has been in and out of custody for years and has…

Susie has struggled to build trust and have meaningful healthy relationships with anyone for many years. That's starting to heal with Upside support. www.upside.scot/case-studies...

We are inviting people with lived experience of the justice system (community sentencing, bail or remand, or being in prison) to take part in small, informal group discussions this August. What you share will help shape how prison and community sentences are used in Scotland.

Award-winning South Lanarkshire drug and alcohol service is made permanent The South Lanarkshire Recovery Orientated Justice Service (ROJS) will continue to support individuals at risk of causing harm due to substance abuse after initially being created as a two-year pilot…

South Lanarkshire’s Recovery Oriented Justice Service is a great example of how statutory and voluntary sector partnerships working together can make a real impact in addressing drug and alcohol harm. Let’s see more of it! www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area...

Donna: Working to get her baby back. — UpSide Donna has had previous involvement with the justice system due to substance use issues. She has had a traumatic background and has recently given birth. The baby is currently under social work…

Building solid relationships plays a big part in helping people engage and seek the support they need to transition from custody to community. www.upside.scot/case-studies...

Thanks to @scottishprisons staff at HMP Kilmarnock for having us along to one of their Veterans’ Breakfasts. A great initiative to help armed forces veterans get together in a safe space and develop a peer support network. www.sps.gov.uk/about-us/our...

Hilary: The importance of support on release. — UpSide Hilary was released from prison on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) - more commonly referred to as being ‘on tag’. She had been serving a three-year sentence for a fraudulent offence and her original…

Navigating the host of necessary appointments on release from prison when you have health or mobility issues can be a major challenge. Upside support can be there to provide support: www.upside.scot/case-studies...

Rebecca: A collaborative, multi-agency approach — UpSide This case study highlights the collaborative efforts between Upside and other local services to provide practical and emotional support to a young female. Rebecca was released from HMP & YOI…

Upside's ethos of #collaboration and multi-agency involvement means better outcomes for people transitioning to community life from custody. www.upside.scot/case-studies...

Exciting News
We're thrilled to welcome Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine as the new Chief Executive of Apex Scotland, starting in early August! Currently CEO at Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home, Lindsay brings fantastic experience as we continue our journey of growth and change.
www.apexscotland.org.uk/news/our-new...

Simon. Supported with accommodation and employment. — UpSide Simon had spent the previous two years in prison after being found guilty of multiple offences. He took part in several rehabilitation programs while imprisoned, such as counselling on substance…

Upside support helped Simon into work and housing, providing structure, confidence, and a second chance: www.upside.scot/case-studies...

Upside is a national throughcare service, available in all parts of Scotland. Upside provides people in short-term custody, or remand with the practical and ... Introducing Upside

Upside provides people in short-term custody, or remand with the practical and emotional support they need to transition to community life. youtu.be/J7Ujg7hLuUc?...

Excellent piece in @ThirdForceNews on Upside and the importance of throughcare in supporting people leaving custody: tfn.scot/magazine/apr...

No Downside: New ‘Upside’ Prison Throughcare Service Launches Across Scotland | Sacro A new national prison throughcare service called Upside was launched in Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket on 1 April 2025. Designed to support people in Scotland moving from short-term custody or remand back ...

No Downside: New ‘Upside’ Prison Throughcare Service Launches Across Scotland www.sacro.org.uk/post/no-down...

Great to meet with the brilliant Upside team who, from today, will be delivering throughcare to people leaving custody across Scotland. #UpsideLaunch

Working with Upside is voluntary and will address any issues an individual may have on release like health, housing, finance, skills and employment. Importantly, Upside can also connect people with family support if required. Follow @UpsideScotland on most major platforms

Today we are launching Upside, a national throughcare service, available in all parts of Scotland. Upside provides people in short-term custody, or remand with the practical and emotional support they need to transition to community life. #UpsideLaunch