Hello and welcome to
THE LAUNCH OF SHiFT KINGSTON AND RICHMOND
WHY SHiFT?
SHiFT exists to break the destructive cycles of children and young people caught up in, or at risk of, crime and harm. We do this by building deep, consistent, and trusted relationships that allow young people move towards safer, brighter, and more ambitious futures. SHiFT uses the Breaking Cycles ingredients to inform all aspects of its systemic, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice.
SHiFT is scaling high impact ‘insider-outsider’ Practices across the UK, with the aim of demonstrating that it is possible for practice, including within statutory services, to be delivered differently to secure better, long term, safeguarding, public protection, and fiscal outcomes.
Through practice, and evidence of its impacts, we seek to influence policy and practice locally, regionally, and nationally so that SHiFT becomes business as usual within existing teams and structures. Our aim is to become the way of working with vulnerable adolescents across all services relevant to their lives.
SHiFT Guides work flexibly and intensively, supporting a handful of children each for 18 months. We collaborate with local and national partners to create the conditions where this work can thrive, practically, relationally, and systemically. SHiFT is growing, and works across Greater London, Greater Manchester, Essex, and South Tees.
BREAKING CYCLES
SHiFT uses the Breaking Cycles ingredients - a dynamic and evidenced approach to enabling change, created by Sophie Humphreys OBE - to inform all aspects of its systemic, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice.
Using the Breaking Cycles ingredients, SHiFT wants every child and young person caught up in, or at risk of, crime, to have one intensive, high-quality, trusting, and persistent professional relationship through which most of their needs are met: a flexible, tailored, and tenacious relationship through which professionals do whatever it takes to set children and young people up for safe and bright futures.
WHY KINGSTON AND RICHMOND?
SHiFT Kingston & Richmond is one of the newest SHiFT programmes, delivered in partnership with Achieving for Children. Originally piloted in 2021, the first phase of the programme supported 22 children over 18 months, building a strong foundation of learning, trust, and local knowledge.
In October 2024, the partnership relaunched with a bold new ambition: to embed the SHiFT Way into statutory social work. The SHiFT Kingston & Richmond Guides are now qualified social workers holding statutory responsibilities, working intensively with children and families to disrupt cycles of harm and unlock lasting change.
Since December 2024, SHiFT Kingston & Richmond has worked with 25 children. The partnership is guided by a shared set of strategic objectives focused on practice, learning, and systems change: locally and beyond.
MEET THE PRACTICE
Dr Roberta Evans : Associate Director, Family and Adolescence, Achieving for Children, SHiFT Strategic Lead
Kathy Walker : Head of Specialist Adolescent Services, Achieving for Children, SHiFT Operational Lead
Emma Crawford : SHiFT Team Leader (emma.crawford@achievingforchildren.org.uk)
Annmarie Nero : SHiFT Lead Guide (annmarie.nero@achievingforchildren.org.uk)
Amy Lewthwaite : SHiFT Guide (amy.lewthwaite@achievingforchildren.org.uk)
Nicola Toh : SHiFT Guide (nicola.toh@achievingforchildren.org.uk)
Cheryl Carter : SHiFT Guide (cheryl.carter@achievingforchildren.org.uk)
Ashley Reeman : SHiFT Practice Coordinator (Ashley.Reeman@achievingforchildren.org.uk)
SHiFT Kingston and Richmond are supported by Jack Bakker, SHiFT’s Practice Development Lead for the South.
IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS…
SHiFT seeks to achieve exceptional outcomes for children and young people to break the destructive cycle of crime. We think about progress and outcomes in relation to four key domains: Loved and Cared for, Safe and Stable, Healthy and Happy and Power and Purpose.
SHiFT’s vision is that every child and young person deserves to be kept safe, to be nurtured by people who see the potential in them, and to be supported and challenged to move to a place of strength and responsibility from which they can aspire, achieve, and contribute to society. Policy and practice should deliver on this aspiration for everyone. All children have equal access to consistently high–quality support and services. Local, regional and national systems are purposed and structured to properly meet the most complex needs.
SAFE AND STABLE
→ In the year before working with SHiFT, 15 children accounted for 66 arrests. Between January and April 2025, this reduced to 9 arrests involving 7 children, with 12 children not arrested during this period.
→ 15 of the 19 children have had no proven offences while working with SHiFT.
→ 11 children were previously involved with Youth Justice. As of April 2025, four of these 11 children currently have no involvement with the Youth Justice.
→ The number of missing episodes has also decreased significantly, from 306 across 12 children in the year prior to SHiFT to just 26 episodes involving 7 children.
→ Exploitation remains a concern for 17 children, but decreased risk was noted for two. Eight children have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism, with five receiving positive decisions so far.
HAPPY AND HEALTHY
→ Four children showed improved wellbeing in April compared to their first month with SHiFT, though overall trends remain mixed.
→ Three children previously identified as having concerns are no longer using substances. 16 children are still using substances, primarily cannabis (14) and alcohol (5), but none are reported to be using Class A drugs. Five children have shown reduced negative impact from substance use compared to when they first began working with SHiFT.
LOVED AND CARED FOR
→ Since starting SHiFT, two children have stepped down from Child Protection to Child in Need plans, and two Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) orders have been removed.
→ Two children have returned home during their time working with SHiFT, one from remand and another from costly supported accommodation.
POWER AND PURPOSE
→ 15 children are school-aged. Three are in mainstream school full-time, three in full-time alternative provision, and nine in part-time alternative provision.
→ Two children who were previously severely absent have shown significant improvement, reaching over 90% attendance.
→ One child, previously struggling with anxiety in mainstream school, successfully transitioned to online tuition, completed their Maths GCSE in May 2025, and is preparing to enrol in college, an achievement attributed to consistent support from their SHiFT Guide.
→ Among the four post-school-age children, one is attending college while working part-time, and another is in part-time employment. Two are currently NEET, but one has a conditional college place for September 2025, and the other, with a background in construction, recently earned a CSCS card and plans to pursue an NVQ in Roofing.
→ Another young person, previously disengaged due to trauma, is now receiving therapeutic support, attending job interviews, and gradually rebuilding confidence and structure in their daily life.
WHAT’S NEXT?
This is just the beginning. SHiFT Kingston & Richmond is growing, and so is the movement to do things differently for children and families. Here’s how you can stay connected, contribute, and help us break cycles of harm for children and young people:
Join the movement.
Be part of a growing network of practitioners, partners, and changemakers committed to relational, persistent, and creative work with young people. Join our mailing list to receive stories, updates, and invitations to future events.
Work with us.
Interested in collaborating with our Practice? We’re always looking to connect with passionate professionals and organisations. Explore careers and partnerships by getting in touch here.
Spread the word.
Help amplify the SHiFT Difference. Share what you’ve heard and seen today with your networks. Follow us on Linkedin and tag us using #SHIFTDifference.
Keep the conversation going.
Let’s keep learning together. Whether you’re a frontline worker, strategic leader, or community advocate, get in touch to share your ideas, questions, or reflections.
Contact us at info@shiftuk.org.
Thank you for joining us.
