Hear from Sobanan Narenthiran, CEO of Breakthrough Social Enterprise, about how his experience of the criminal justice system has helped him support others into employment.
Breakthrough provides 12-week training programmes to help people who are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system or have left prison, to move towards employment using technology skills.
When I was released from prison aged 21, I quickly learned that the best way to stand out to employers was to understand the current, most in-demand skills. For me, that meant embracing YouTube, Google, and ChatGPT to learn – all I needed was a laptop, smartphone and an internet connection.
During my sentence I saw lots of talented people who could thrive on the outside, but also saw a gap – prisoners didn’t realise the power of the internet and how this most personalised education tool could transform lives.
I realised that digital devices, connectivity and the capacity to learn were all privileges that not everyone had, and they needed to be shared with as many people leaving prison as possible.
Being in prison myself ignited a purpose within me to help bridge this gap. Pratik, who is now Breakthrough’s COO, joined me to teach financial literacy, digital skills and how to thrive in the information economy.
We were then approached to run Breakthrough Social Enterprise and, as two people with lived experience, we were deeply moved. It was an opportunity to turn a painful yet formative experience of our lives into a purposeful venture
Working with HMPPS
We believe that through personal responsibility, digital skills and a willingness to learn, anything is possible in an era of technological innovation. We work with New Futures Network to:
- Help prison-leavers find jobs
- Fill vacancies that exist for employers
- Provide social value through the successful reintegration of people leaving prison
Our organisation is entirely staffed by people with lived experience of the justice system who can understand the problems people leaving prisons face.
What has Breakthrough achieved so far?
Our programmes deliver a comprehensive curriculum to give prison-leavers a better chance of getting a job. We cover topics from mastering AI to understanding blockchain and offer a unique opportunity for people to learn from industry experts and gain practical experience.
We’ve worked with over 130 people, 27% of which secured jobs in professional services or a business that are often reserved for graduates or more privileged individuals. Over 80% of Breakthrough’s associates stay engaged with the community after graduation.
In the last few years, we’ve run programmes across London prisons to help support people in custody and through the gate. In 2024, our community programmes have been running in a hybrid format to be more inclusive and accessible to people across the UK, but we’d love to return to our work in prisons – fingers crossed in 2025!
We have no restrictions on the individuals we work with. First and foremost, everyone who wants to complete a programme is a human being. This human centred approach is what is key to our success.
I have real admiration for those who work in HMPPS and continue day in, day out to place the priority of those in their care above all else. It’s our duty as citizens of this country to engage with and serve all the members of our society- I am grateful that we get to do our small part to help.
Learn more about Breakthrough Social Enterprise.
By Sobanan Narenthiran, Chief Executive Officer, Breakthrough Social Enterprise