3rd December 2025
Unlocked Graduates is pleased to introduce Unlocked Trailblazers, a peer mentoring scheme for operational Ambassadors of the Unlocked programme currently in a band three or four role. This programme will match Ambassadors with an inspirational leader from across the prison service for one-to-one mentoring, offering professional development opportunities and career progression support to the next generation of prison leaders.
Unlocked Trailblazers
The Unlocked Ambassador Network supports those who have completed our programme to continue working towards our mission of breaking cycles of reoffending. We know that one of the greatest challenges many face after completing the programme is a lack of ongoing professional development. Unlocked Trailblazers aims to address this, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their practice and development with someone who understands their day-to-day role and routes to progression in the prison service.
It’s someone that you know has insight into the job you’re already doing, […] and can see some of the grassroot issues that you’re dealing with.
Sandra, Unlocked Trailblazers Mentor
The programme will facilitate one-to-one mentoring and tailored support for Ambassadors. It will leverage our unique insight into effective mentoring in prisons from our leadership development programmes, and mentors will receive training from the Unlocked team to ensure they are best placed to provide the most impactful support.
Mentors and mentees will be matched based on experience and areas of interest to ensure the most effective support to help Ambassadors overcome some of the barriers to progression The programme will also allow mentees to shadow their mentors in their prisons, giving them a greater understanding of the leadership roles available and support them to build their networks.
It’s just being available to someone and having that time to be able to talk about things […] It’s about support to their career path and where they want to go and how they should go about it.
Mat, Unlocked Trailblazers Mentor
Unlocked’s Ambassador Network Manager Kat Gartland said: “We are really excited to launch Unlocked Trailblazers. This mentorship programme will give this group of outstanding prison officers access to valuable professional development, supporting them in their work towards our mission. It will enable them to build their professional networks and help them to overcome some of the barriers to progression they face, so they can have the greatest possible impact on those in their care and across the system.”
Find out more about the Unlocked Ambassador Network.