The Forward Trust (U.K.) is a charitable organization that supports the needs of people with substance use disorders (SUDs) and those recently released from prison. They have a unique tandem mission centered on re-entry into the workforce and a reduction in disabling addictions.

The Forward Trust received a big boost recently from Catherine, the Princess of Wales, who is a patron of the trust. In a statement marking “addiction awareness week,” the last week of November, Princess Catherine said:

Addiction is not a choice or a personal failing but a complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy and support.

In an article about the Princess of Wales’ campaign against stigma, The Guardian notes that more than 80% of people polled agree that “those addicted or dependent on alcohol, drugs, medication or gambling should be treated as individuals who were struggling and needed help.”

An Independent Sentencing Review of the U.K.’s criminal justice system, submitted in February 2025, found that “prison populations sharply increased in recent decades and are expected to continue to grow.” There is a new focus on reducing recidivism, and that’s where the Forward Trust steps in.

The Forward Trust provides housing as the first rung on the ladder back into the workforce for former addicts and ex-convicts. Their website suggests “tailored housing support,” and they actually deliver with a wide variety of living situations:

• Housing for people in addiction recovery
• Abstinence housing for people in addiction recovery
• Housing for people on probation
• Temporary accommodations for those waiting for housing
• Vouchers to subsidize local housing

An example of their offerings is the Camau Accommodation for men on probation who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They provide emergency housing support, then continued assistance toward stable, permanent housing.

The Forward Trust has a practical purpose beneath its charitable surface:

Without secure accommodation, they face higher risks of reoffending, unemployment, and poor mental health barriers that prevent long-term recovery and reintegration into society.

The trust works with more than 20 prisons to help inmates make a successful transition to life on the outside. Forward Trust offers prisoners drug and alcohol detoxification programs, support for prisoners in recovery, and family support services designed to “strengthen relationships with family, friends, and wider social networks whilst recovering from drug or alcohol dependencies.”

The employment wing of the Forward Trust also provides a surprisingly custom approach toward re-entry into the workforce. They help customers get the training they need to get the jobs available that enable them to secure stable housing. They even provide assistance with self-employment and starting a business.

As Princess Catherine noted, people recovering from addiction or incarceration face a difficult time securing employment. Self-employment offers a path for people blocked from the workforce by their past behavior.

From start to finish, the Forward Trust sets the standard for addiction treatment. With a housing-first approach and a range of highly-tailored solutions, they have helped more than 25,000 customers regain their footing and begin ascending the ladder to health and stability.

Written by Steve O’Keefe. First published November 26, 2025.

Sources:

“Princess of Wales calls for end to ‘stigma’ around addiction,” The Guardian, November 24, 2025.

“The Forward Trust Welcomes the First Report of the Independent Sentencing Review,” Forward Trust News, February 18, 2025.

“The Forward Trust’s Camau Accommodation Probation Service,” YouTube Video from the Forward Trust, July 2, 2025.

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