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Stories of Hope

Michael’s* Story

When Michael* was released from prison after 19 years, the team from Connect to Community began working with him as he settled into a Bethany Homes flat…

Within weeks, the effects of spending nearly two decades in prison began to surface.¹ Michael faced challenges with social interactions in the flat and experienced physical sickness and headaches most mornings. While he continued attending his local church, he withdrew from most other activities and support.

We’ve learned that offering multiple points of connection allows us to build an individualised support plan for each person that we work with. Michael decided to pause involvement with Bethany Homes support, while staying engaged with Connect to Community.

The turning point came when Michael said he wanted to learn to drive. Our team helped him find an instructor and, after a few months, he passed his test first time! He then asked for help buying a car, explaining he wasn’t comfortable dealing with salespeople yet. Now, he drives regularly to visit his parents.

His resettlement worker, Gill, could see that Michael was carrying deep trauma and together they worked to access NHS psychology support and a support worker attended Michael’s first three appointments until he felt confident enough to go alone. 

Connect to Community 2025 statistics:
182 volunteers across Scotland
10% of people we engaged with were women²
Scotland has one of the highest rates of people in prison in Western Europe: 132 per 100,000³
85% of prison leavers supported remain out of prison for 12 months⁴

This August, Michael drove from Glasgow to Edinburgh with another Bethany Homes tenant and a church friend to see ‘Insiders’ at the Fringe. He’d worked with the team in prison and wanted to see their drama performed. It’s remarkable to stop and think about what Michael has achieved since his release: driving independently, building friendships, navigating Edinburgh, and choosing to engage with his past through theatre.

Three years on from prison, Michael is finding his way forward. 

* name has been changed to protect identity
¹ A 2024 study by criminologist Ben Crewe, in conjunction with Oxford University, concludes that people who serve long-term prison sentences often struggle with ‘post incarceration syndrome’. This means they often struggle with ‘institutionalisation’ – prison-based habits, emotional detachment and trust issues that helped protect them inside but become difficult to process on the outside. These traits can damage relationships and limit intimacy. Research identifies that PTSD, depression, and other mental health issues are directly linked to prolonged imprisonment, with effects persisting long after release.
² Significantly higher than the 4% of Scotland’s prison population they represent.
³ In comparison, Northern Ireland’s prison population is 87 per 100,000.
⁴ The reconviction rate in Scotland is 27%, meaning you would usually only expect 73% to remain out of prison.