From Medical Aspirations to Leading a Social Enterprise | Sobanan Narenthiran

Life After Prison

Zak and Jules sit down with Sobanan Narenthiran, CEO of Breakthrough, to discuss his journey from dreaming of being a doctor to navigating life after prison. Sobanan shares how his sentence impacted his family and why they’re his biggest motivation to stay out, as well as reflecting on his unexpected path to becoming a CEO, his plans for the future, and the changes he hopes to see in the criminal justice system.

This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.

Breakthrough are currently recruiting for their next bootcamp, more info can be found here: https://wearebreakthrough.co.uk/skills-bootcamp/

Useful organisations:

StandOut (London and Manchester) – Provides tailored support and mentoring for people leaving prison, helping them build confidence, secure employment, and successfully reintegrate into society.

https://www.standout.org.uk

Breakthrough (UK-Wide) – a pioneering organisation dedicated to empowering individuals from underserved and marginalised backgrounds, including those leaving prison and with criminal records, to transform their lives through education, skills development, and employment opportunities.

https://wearebreakthrough.co.uk/

ChatGPT (Online) – A tool for accessible knowledge and support, assisting people with research, learning, and personal development.

https://chat.openai.com/

Clinks Directory (UK-Wide) – A comprehensive online resource listing organisations working to support people in the criminal justice system and their families. It provides details on services, including mentoring, rehabilitation, housing, and employment support.

https://www.clinks.org/directory

Criminal Justice Alliance (UK-Wide) – A network of organisations focused on promoting fairer criminal justice policies and practices.

https://www.criminaljusticealliance.org

Catch22 Digital Skills Academy (UK-Wide) – Provides training programs to help excluded groups access digital and tech-enabled roles.

https://www.catch-22.org.uk/find-services/digital-skills-academy/

CodeAtt (UK-Wide) – Focuses on equipping individuals, including ex-offenders, with coding skills to transition into the tech industry.

Spark2Life (London) – A rehabilitation and mentoring organisation empowering young people at risk of offending or reoffending.

https://www.spark2life.co.uk

St. Giles Trust (UK-Wide) – Helps people facing severe disadvantage transition from prison with support in employment, housing, and rehabilitation.

https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk

Unlock (UK-Wide) – Supports people with convictions to overcome barriers, particularly in employment and financial services.

https://www.unlock.org.uk

The Paradigm Project (UK-Wide) – Tackles social inequality for young people through prevention-focused creative arts programs.

https://paradigmproject.co.uk/

Prison Reform Trust (UK-Wide) – Campaigns for fairer, more effective penal systems and supports people in prison.

https://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk

Bounce Back (London) – Trains individuals in custody and after release to secure sustainable employment.

https://www.bouncebackproject.com

Clean Slate (UK-Wide) – Helps individuals rebuild their lives with opportunities in employment and digital inclusion.

https://www.cleanslateltd.co.uk

Switch Up (Nottingham) – Provides mentoring and sports programs to help young people and adults involved in or at risk of crime.

https://www.switch-up.org.uk

Framework (Nottingham and surrounding areas) – Prevents homelessness, offering support to people leaving prison who are at risk of housing instability.

https://www.frameworkha.org

The Growth Company (Greater Manchester) – Delivers training and employment services, including programs for people with convictions.

https://www.growthco.uk

Community Led Initiatives (North West) – Provides mentoring and recovery-focused programs to help individuals leaving prison reintegrate into society.

https://www.communityled.org.uk

Second Step (Bristol and South West) – A mental health and housing charity supporting individuals leaving the justice system.

https://www.second-step.co.uk

The Nelson Trust (Gloucestershire) – Offers trauma-informed recovery and reintegration support for people in the criminal justice system.

https://www.nelsontrust.com

Venture Trust (Scotland) – Provides personal development programs and employability training for people involved in the justice system.

https://www.venturetrust.org.uk

Turning Point Scotland (Nationwide in Scotland) – Tailored support services for individuals leaving custody, including housing and addiction recovery.

https://www.turningpointscotland.com

The Wallich (Wales-wide) – Provides housing and resettlement support for people leaving prison, helping to prevent reoffending.

https://www.thewallich.com

Northcoders (Manchester and Leeds) – A coding bootcamp helping individuals transition into tech careers, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

https://www.northcoders.com

Contact us:

If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.

💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok

📧 Email: [e-mail]

✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF

🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/