Momentum was set up to shine a light on Aotearoa’s complex prison problem.

We are a charitable trust working to empower people in prison with important life skills, so that they can live a decent life upon their release. We know that people in prison face a number of barriers on their release – such as poor literacy and numeracy, a history of unemployment, and lack of support to navigate the transition to a law abiding lifestyle. We also know that educating people in prison results in higher post-prison employment levels and lower recidivism rates.

By connecting people in prison with strengths-based, holistic and practical life skills programmes, we are equipping them with the life skills they need to become productive, independent, and confident individuals – capable of making positive changes in their lives.

Since 2018, we have partnered with Life101 to deliver these programmes. Life101 is a notable and leading provider of life skills programmes in the Northern Region prisons and probation centres. Life101 employ specialised facilitators who have experience working in the criminal justice system, and have demonstrably high levels of engagement with people in prison and on probation.

Alongside our work in prisons and probation centres, we are building meaningful partnerships with other community-based services – such as accommodation providers, budgeting services etc – to ensure that people in prison are supported by and connected to wraparound services in their own communities after their release.