Meet Cathy Kane
Our interim CEO talks about her first 100 Days at SIG
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Annie was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease at 25. After a decline in her mental and physical health, she was admitted to hospital and separated from her young daughter during a time of family loss. The emotional impact was severe, and she longed to return home.
Previously living in a two-bedroom flat, Annie now needed a ground-floor property. With rent arrears complicating a housing transfer, the STEPS team and her social worker worked with the council and housing providers to find a solution. After months of advocacy, Annie was offered a place in supported accommodation that met her health and independence needs.
Annie is now preparing to move into her new flat. She’s excited to reunite with her daughter and granddaughter and regain control of her wellbeing. She continues to engage with support services and says that without their help, she would still be in hospital.
Julia, 30, from South East London, has Paranoid Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses. After repeated hospital admissions and struggles with self-care and isolation, she was referred to PCCS as a step-down from residential care. Julia wanted to return home to her family, prompting a tailored support plan aimed at rebuilding routines and confidence.
She initially received 14 hours of weekly support, focusing on hygiene, household tasks, and community engagement. As she progressed, support was reduced to 9 hours. Staff helped Julia build a daily structure, improve social interaction, and accept her diagnosis. She began using public transport, reconnected with her family, and maintained medication compliance, resulting in improved mental and physical health.
Julia has successfully secured a volunteer role at a local Mind shop, enhancing her confidence and work-readiness. She engages in regular social activities and continues to build positive routines. While challenges remain—such as occasional hoarding and difficulties with motivation—Julia is now living more independently and aspires to secure full-time employment. Her journey reflects the power of personalised, consistent support in transforming long-term mental health outcomes and enabling individuals to thrive in the community.
David joined the Fathers Inside programme in March 2024 while in prison. Since his release, he has moved into supported recovery housing and is thriving in full-time recovery with ongoing support from the SIG Safe Ground team. He credits the programme with helping him reflect on masculinity, identity, and how these affect his relationships.
David’s progress has been recognised—he’s been shortlisted for a national SIG Award, celebrating his courage and transformation. He has also spoken at local events, inspiring others with his story.
Living apart from his partner and stepson has allowed David to focus on healing, and he says it’s improved the way he connects with them. His bond with his sister, his only other close family member, remains strong. David’s journey highlights the lasting impact of targeted support during and after custody.
Phil, 60, has a long history of mental ill-health, substance misuse, and repeated prison recalls. After being convicted of murder in 1993 and serving 15 years, Phil struggled to stay in the community, facing multiple breaches of licence. His only period of stability was during a previous stay at SIG Penrose New Hope.
In 2020, Phil returned to Penrose New Hope after his parole board determined it was the most suitable setting. Initially, he faced major challenges—financial hardship, no ID or income, and increasing frustration. Staff helped Phil access emergency financial support, reapply for ID, and eventually receive benefits. With ongoing one-to-one support, Phil began to stabilise. He engaged more positively, managed his emotions better, and maintained abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Reconnecting with a former partner gave him vital emotional support, and he gradually earned overnight leave to visit her.
Phil gained independence, cooked for himself, engaged in activities, and managed his living space and finances well. In time, he moved into his own accommodation, with continued support from Penrose New Hope. He remains committed to his recovery and told staff he plans to propose to his partner, grateful, grounded, and focused on the future.
Joe has lived with complex mental health challenges and substance use for most of his life. Years spent in hospital and isolation made recovery feel distant—until a Mental Health Support Worker introduced him to Roots in 2016. Initially overwhelmed, Joe nearly left on his first visit, but with gentle encouragement, he stayed—and something changed.
Since that day, Joe has attended Roots weekly. He hasn’t relapsed or used substances since. Through Roots, he’s gained confidence, passed his driving test, and now attends appointments independently. Most importantly, he’s built lasting friendships and a sense of purpose.
Joe has learned skills in mental health first aid, gardening, and DIY, and is now a key member of the community. He especially values welcoming new members, knowing how hard that first step can be. For Joe, Roots isn’t just support—it’s life-changing.
After a 5-year prison sentence for drug-related offences, Jake faced anxiety about rebuilding his life. With limited job skills and a history of substance use, reintegration felt daunting.
At Penrose Drive, Jake was supported to enrol in a railway course and engage with local drug and alcohol services. He remained drug-free, regularly attending CGL and NA meetings. Jake completed his course, secured full-time work for the first time in eight years, and moved into stable housing. He later returned to share his progress with visiting Enabling Environments assessors—proof of his remarkable turnaround.
SIG Equinox – Aspinden Care Home in London is a 25-bed specialist service offering a managed alcohol program for adults facing severe, long-term alcohol dependence. Many residents have complex mental health issues, brain injuries, and additional health and social care needs. Our multidisciplinary team -including a GP and nurses- delivers personalised, harm-reduction-focused care. National referrals are on the rise, reflecting increasing demand for our compassionate, evidence-based approach. Residents are supported to stabilise, improve their health, and often transition into more independent living.
Simon, 45, has learning disabilities and arrived at Aspinden in December 2023 after years in unsuitable housing and daily high-volume alcohol use. At Aspinden, he received non-judgmental, respectful care and engaged in a structured alcohol management plan. With consistent support, Simon developed awareness of his drinking’s effects, improved his well-being, and began building a path to greater independence.
Samuel moved to SIG Penrose Havering in December 2023 after relapsing into alcohol use, consuming hand sanitiser, which severely affected his health. Initially disengaged and malnourished, he struggled with memory issues, neglected hygiene, and was financially exploited by others. Despite this, staff maintained consistent, person-centred care, restoring his room, supporting hospital visits, and advocating for detox, mental health support, and safeguarding intervention.
After months of instability and health decline, Samuel was hospitalised in April with liver failure. Staff escalated concerns until he was admitted and detoxed. Our staff visited him throughout his stay, and Samuel surrendered his tenancy, thanking the team for their support. Now abstinent and in recovery, Samuel is being moved into appropriate long-term care with a renewed chance at life.
Social Impact is the foundation for SIG Penrose Roots to Recovery (Roots). With a decade of dedicated service, we take pride in being Luton’s sole ‘green’ support service. We promote health and wellness, reduce reoffending, and provide local pathways to employment and volunteering. Roots offers hands-on work experience, partners with training providers, and prepares people for work in a supportive environment.
Over the last three years, Roots volunteers have donated 12,000 hours to the local community. 90% of project staff were recruited from former service members and volunteers. Root’s latest member survey showed we supported 33% of members in volunteering, 26% in work or job seeking, and 20% in training courses. “In 2015, I was going to be homeless, so I sought housing support from Penrose. While they supported me, I was asked if I’d like to volunteer in the garden. In 2019, I became fully employed as a Project Leader at SIG Penrose Roots to Recovery. SIG Penrose has helped me tremendously.”
A family from Cheshire faced a difficult chapter when their son spent 175 days at HMP Altcourse. During this time, the prison’s Visitor Centre Team became a vital source of emotional support. Offering far more than standard assistance, the team created a welcoming, compassionate space that helped the family navigate the challenges of having a loved one in prison.
From addressing basic welfare concerns to organising meaningful family visits, the team transformed a stressful experience into one filled with dignity and care. Their consistent kindness left a deep impression.
Even after their son was transferred, the family returned to HMP Altcourse to personally thank the team. They brought gifts of tea, coffee, and a heartfelt card—a powerful gesture of gratitude for the humanity shown to them. Their story is a testament to the vital, often unseen, emotional work carried out by prison support staff every day.
Tyrone arrived at Penrose Drive in December 2023, shortly after leaving care. With support from staff, he enrolled in a Network Rail course, taking his first steps toward a more stable future. Regular guidance and check-ins helped him stay motivated and focused on both personal and professional goals.
By February 2024, Tyrone had gained the confidence to move on. He launched a small business designing customised T-shirts and began working with Uber Eats to support himself. He credits the encouragement and structure provided by Penrose Drive as key to his progress. Tyrone’s transformation into a self-sufficient young adult shows the lasting impact of tailored support and belief in a young person’s potential.
Steven, a 57-year-old man with paranoid schizophrenia and a history of substance misuse, entered Jigsaw’s care in 2012. Initially struggling to transition out of core housing, he eventually moved to long-term accommodation with floating support in 2021. With consistent guidance—medication adherence, outpatient support, budgeting help, and daily living assistance—Steven maintained stable mental health, improved insight into his condition, and avoided hospitalisation apart from one brief episode.
Over the years, Steven’s confidence and independence have grown remarkably. He now manages his medication, maintains his tenancy, engages in social activities, and completed courses at the local college. A major milestone was his trip to Barbados in 2024—his first in over 20 years—to visit his mother, fulfilling a long-held personal goal. His journey reflects the success of long-term, person-centred support in helping individuals reintegrate and thrive in the community.
While in prison, Martin struggled with anxiety, depression, and the impact of separation from his partner and two children. Through SIG Safe Ground’s Fathers Inside programme, he developed emotional insight, built coping strategies, and used creative tools like poetry to process his feelings. His leadership and openness helped foster a supportive group environment, and he continued with family counselling after the programme.
Martin’s 7-year-old daughter, distressed by his absence, was supported through Stay and Play, helping her stop self-harming and feel more secure. His 1-year-old son bonded with him during sessions, while his partner, Nancy received one-to-one counselling. The holistic support helped the family reconnect, and Martin, now trusted with Redband status, feels more confident facing the future.
Donald, a skilled plasterer with over 20 years of experience, faced a mental health crisis after personal struggles became overwhelming. Following two suicide attempts, he was admitted to Onyx Ward -his first time in a mental health unit, which he found daunting and unfamiliar. With no income and unsure where to turn, Donald felt lost.
The SIG Penrose STEPS team stepped in to provide practical, compassionate support. They helped Donald apply for Universal Credit and discussed housing options, respecting his wish to avoid temporary accommodation or hostels. Despite challenges with high rental costs and few available properties, the team persistently liaised with local letting agencies and housing associations.
Their efforts paid off when a one-bedroom flat through a local Housing Association became available. After a successful referral and assessment, Donald was accepted and offered the property, avoiding a prolonged hospital stay or unsuitable housing.
Donald, who is dyslexic, continues to receive regular support from SIG Penrose STEPS, including help managing his Universal Credit account. He remains engaged with mental health services and is grateful for the quick, effective response that helped him move from crisis to stability
Louise came to the service three years ago after surviving domestic violence, losing custody of her children, and facing active addiction and homelessness. She was unable to access recovery at the time. With patience and consistency, the staff built a trusting relationship with her, enabling the creation of a personalised, multi-agency support plan. As Louise stabilised, she began her recovery journey and reconnected with her children, boosting her mental well-being and giving her the goal of learning to read to her youngest son. She was referred to one of our non-profit partners and successfully began learning to read.
With recovery maintained and confidence growing, Louise started having regular contact with her children, took on responsibility for the St Aubyns garden, and began planning for her future. Reading regularly to her son helped improve his literacy, and Louise continued developing her own. She stabilised her finances, prepared to move on, and was recognised with a SIG Resident and Participant award. Now at the end of her stay, Louise is looking forward to moving into her own home and beginning the next chapter of her life.
After losing his mother at 14, Tim turned to alcohol for comfort, an addiction that deepened after a failed relationship and the death of a close friend. Originally from Eastern Europe, Tim moved to the UK to study and built a life here, working various jobs and pursuing music. But when life unravelled, he experienced homelessness and attempted suicide, leading to a psychiatric admission in 2022. From there, he was placed in our Intensive Housing management support units, where his recovery journey began. Tim initially kept to himself but, with support from Penrose Havering staff, partner non-profit organisations and the Havering Rough Sleeper Team, gradually began reducing his drinking and reconnecting with his passion for music. He even took on roles as a service rep and peer mentor, though the pressure led to a brief relapse.
Tim’s relapse was short-lived thanks to consistent keywork, encouragement, and multi-agency support. He resumed sobriety on September 4, 2024, engaged in online courses and therapy, and rebuilt his self-confidence. After 22 months of dedicated support, Tim successfully moved into a lower-support, self-contained flat. He remains sober, committed to personal growth, and hopes to mentor others on similar paths. As Tim reflects: “Even at my lowest point, no one judged me—all I got was support and time to think.”
Joe, a 46-year-old with complex mental health diagnoses, faced multiple hospital admissions and significant challenges with engagement, a history of violence, and substance misuse. His first trial placement at Penrose ended abruptly due to distress and relapse. Months later, a second attempt was successful, and Joe moved into supported accommodation where he began building trust and engaging in a structured care plan.
With consistent keyworker support, Joe improved his self-care, budgeting, and social skills through activities like cooking, mindfulness, and ICT (Integrative Community Therapy) workshops. He also addressed physical health needs and anti-social behaviour. At his recent CPA (Care Programme Approach) review, professionals agreed he was ready for semi-independent living. His transition reflects the impact of sustained, person-centred support.
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