New housing project to support young women and girls affected by crime

December 17, 2025

Advance has secured major funding from Triangle Trust to deliver a groundbreaking pilot that will transform outcomes for young women at risk of recall to prison.

This innovative project in East London, delivered in partnership with Commonweal Housing and Housing for Women, will provide safe, supported accommodation and wraparound, trauma-informed support for young women under 25 who face multiple disadvantages—unstable housing, trauma, and exploitation.

The housing project offers a community-based alternative to prevent young women’s return to custody, combining safe accommodation with intensive one-to-one mentoring, life-skills development, and practical pathways into education, training, and employment.

Why this matters:

The number of women recalled to prison has almost doubled in the past year, often for non-compliance rather than new offences.

Lack of safe housing is a key driver of recall and reoffending.

Over 5 years, this pilot will support 60–80 young women, offering a viable alternative to custody and reducing strain on the prison system.

Summer Alston-Smith, Director of Business Development at Advance, said:

“Young women leaving prison face high risks of homelessness, exploitation, and re-offending. Many have experienced trauma, abuse, or time in care, and are often recalled to custody for minor breaches rather than new offences. We look forward to seeing how the project develops and contributing to an important evidence base that shows what works in helping women avoid returning to prison.

Stable housing and trusted, trauma-informed support can break this cycle: reducing recalls, preventing further harm, and promoting rehabilitation and independence. We are deeply grateful to Triangle Trust for their vision and commitment to justice reform for young women, and to our partners for their expertise and collaboration. Together, we can demonstrate that community-based, gender-specific solutions work—and that they change lives.”

Victoria Southwell, Director of Triangle Trust, said:

“Triangle Trust 1949 Fund is delighted to be supporting this important project. Helping young women avoid recall to prison is hugely important and having safe, secure and supported accommodation is a key element of this. We look forward to seeing how the project develops and contributing to an important evidence base that shows what works in helping women avoid returning to prison.”

The housing project is more than a safe home; it’s a community-based alternative to custody. A holistic approach that gives young women the chance to avoid recall and build brighter, safer futures.

They’ll be able to access Advance’s Bloom Hub in Stratford for peer support, workshops, and mentoring. The hub forms part of Advance’s specialist services for young women and girls aged 13–24 who have been affected by violence or the criminal justice system, alongside our extensive housing support services in West London. Building on over 25 years of expertise in gender- and trauma-informed services, Advance remains committed to creating systemic change and delivering evidence-based alternatives to custody.

Fraser Maclean, Policy and Communications Manager, Commonweal Housing Ltd, said:

“Commonweal are proud to see further support pledged towards a vitally important accommodation model. Shockingly high recall rates are a particularly worrying development in our justice system, especially given the high proportion of women recalled without further charge. We look forward to seeing the project go forward and thank Advance for their continued leading work in this sector.”

Media enquiries

For more information, please contact Tracie Couper, Press Officer at Advance, at tracie.c@advancecharity.org.uk or on 0743 2700 287.

About Advance

Advance’s vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, just and equal lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society. The charity works with women who experience domestic abuse to be safe and take control of their lives, and women who have committed crime or are at risk of offending to break the cycle.
As well as providing direct support, Advance works with statutory services, government agencies and other women’s charities to ensure a holistic approach to the issues these women face.
Women must be referred to Advance, via statutory services or the charity’s self-referral scheme. For more information about who Advance is able to support, please visit Get help.
For facts and statistics about domestic abuse and women in the criminal justice system, as well as Advance’s work, please visit Our impact.