Bounce Back
Bounce Back is a London-based charity and social enterprise founded in 2010 that delivers construction-trades training and employment coaching to people in prison and after release, using a Through the Gate model to match participants with employers pre-release.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bounce Back does
Bounce Back is a UK-registered charity (no. 1144297) and company limited by guarantee (no. 07675301), founded in 2010 and headquartered in Kennington, London. It delivers vocational training and employment support for people in prison and after release, with construction trades — principally painting and decorating, dry lining, and multi-skills — as the core curriculum. Its distinctive "Through the Gate" model connects individuals with Employment and Support Coaches and prospective employers up to six months before release, enabling pre-release job matching; supplementary case-management (Out for Good), diversion (DIVERT), STEM engagement (Beyond Prison Walls / Explore), and construction-industry staffing services round out the portfolio. The organisation has supported nearly 10,000 people and engaged over 400 employers in a single recent year at HMP Brixton alone, generating over 200 job offers.
Bounce Back firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bounce Back
- Legal name
- Bounce Back
- Website
- https://bouncebackproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bounce Back is a London-based charity and social enterprise founded in 2010 that delivers construction-trades training and employment coaching to people in prison and after release, using a Through the Gate model to match participants with employers pre-release.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bounce Back industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Prison Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Workforce Reentry Programs (Justice-Involved) (EDAAAOAG)
Keywords
Where Bounce Back is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bounce Back business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Grants and Fundraising: Bounce Back operates as a registered charity (no. 1144297) funded by grants from trusts, foundations, and corporate supporters. Major funders include The Julia Rausing Trust (£250,000 for Unlocking Futures project), Construction Workers' Charitable Trust, Aldro Trust, and others.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: Their painting and decorating social enterprise generates revenue by providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders while serving external clients.
- Government Contracts: Previously delivered prison education through contracts with Novus (lead contractor for Prison Education) at HMP Brixton, Wandsworth, Pentonville and Isis. The contract was not renewed following the latest commissioning round.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bounce Back product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bounce Back is a UK charity and social enterprise delivering vocational construction-trade training (painting and decorating, dry lining, multi-skills), supported employment through a painting and decorating social enterprise, and one-to-one Employment and Support Coaching for people in prison and after release. Its "Through the Gate" model engages participants with coaches and prospective employers up to six months before release, complemented by wraparound support for mental health, substance misuse, and housing. Special projects (Out for Good, Mind the Gap, DIVERT, Explore/Beyond Prison Walls) address diversion, case management, construction employment, and STEM engagement respectively.
Product overview
Bounce Back is a UK-based charity and social enterprise offering a coordinated portfolio of vocational training and employment support services for ex-offenders. The core offering consists of a Training Programme delivering industry-recognised trades training (painting and decorating, dry lining, multi-skills) in prisons and the community, supported by a Painting and Decorating Social Enterprise that provides actual work opportunities. Employment and Support Coaching guides participants through the journey, underpinned by a Through the Gate Policy enabling pre-release employer connections. The portfolio also includes specialised projects: Out for Good (prison-based case management), Mind the Gap (construction employment), Explore/Beyond Prison Walls (STEM education), DIVERT (diversion), and staffing placement services connecting trained individuals with employer partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Beyond Prison Walls: An innovative project engaging prisoners in astronomy and STEM subjects, helping them 'See Beyond Prison Walls' and their current circumstances.
- Out for Good
- DIVERT
Products and services
- Training Programme Vocational training programme delivered in prisons and the community, covering construction trades such as painting and decorating, dry lining, and multi-skills. Designed for people in custody or recently released who are seeking industry-recognised skills for employment in the construction sector.
- Painting and Decorating Social Enterprise Social enterprise offering painting and decorating services to external clients, providing real work opportunities and an employment route for people leaving custody. Revenue funds the charity while delivering hands-on training.
- Employment and Support Coaching One-to-one coaching service guiding participants step-by-step through the employment programme, from up to six months before release through to employment and post-release support. Includes wraparound support for mental health, substance misuse, and housing.
- Staffing Services Placement service connecting trained individuals in construction trades with organisations seeking employees, bridging the gap between employers and the talent pool of people with convictions.
- Out for Good Special project delivering case management to support ex-offenders into employment, bringing together prisoners and employers within the prison environment at HMP Brixton.
- Mind the Gap Project supporting people with convictions into employment in the construction industry.
- DIVERT Special project focused on diversion and prevention work with individuals at the point of custody, in partnership with DIVERT London.
- Explore (Beyond Prison Walls) Astronomy and STEM engagement project for prisoners, developed in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society, helping prisoners 'See Beyond Prison Walls' through mindfulness and educational experiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 10,000 people supported across London since 2010
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bounce Back
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bounce Back technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bounce Back partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- NovuscorePreviously the lead contractor for Prison Education in Brixton, Wandsworth, Pentonville and Isis. Bounce Back delivered training through this partnership but the contract was not renewed following the latest commissioning round.
- Royal Astronomical SocietyminorPartner for the 'Beyond Prison Walls' (Explore) project, engaging prisoners in astronomy and STEM subjects. Winner of RAS 200 Outreach and Engagement Fund in 2017.
- HMP BrixtoncorePrison where multiple programs operate including Out for Good, Mind the Gap, and Explore. Over 400 employers brought into the prison last year with over 200 job offers made.
- HMP PentonvillecorePrison partner for training delivery programs
- HMP WandsworthcorePrison partner for training delivery programs
- LandsecmajorMajor construction and real estate company partner supporting ex-offender employment in the construction industry
- EnconmajorKey sponsor supporting Bounce Back's mission and one of their key sponsors mentioned in updates
- KnaufmajorKey sponsor and supporter of Bounce Back's programs
- Dulux Decorators CentresmajorKey sponsor providing support for Bounce Back's initiatives
- Lewis & Wood (Top Floor)majorKey sponsor supporting the organization's work
- Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)majorGovernment partner supporting violence reduction through community rehabilitation programs
- ClinksminorConnection in the criminal justice sector supporting Bounce Back's work
- CITBminorConstruction industry training board connection supporting skills development
- Change Grow LivemajorOrganization Bounce Back works with as part of their support network
- The Reasons Why FoundationminorProvides mentoring support for the Out for Good project alongside Bounce Back's case management
- DIVERT LondonmajorPartnership for diversion programs, including hosting events like the 'Echoes of Holloway' documentary premiere together
- MaceminorConstruction and consulting company supporter
- Morgan SindallminorConstruction company partner
- KeltbrayminorConstruction company supporter
- WatesminorConstruction company supporter
- PACTminorPrison reform charity connection
- The ClinkminorPrison charity working in similar space
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bounce Back competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Forward Trust: UK charity providing support for people in prison, on release and in the community, including employment-focused programmes. Directly comparable in offender rehabilitation and resettlement services.
- Novus: UK provider of prison education and offender learning as part of the LTE Group. Directly comparable as a prison-based training delivery partner; was Bounce Back's lead contractor until the 2025 commissioning round.
- The Clink Charity: UK charity operating restaurants in prisons to train prisoners in hospitality and reduce reoffending through employment. Directly comparable as a UK-based prison-to-employment charity working in a similar Through-the-Gate model, also referenced as a sector peer by Bounce Back.
- PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust): UK charity supporting prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families through the justice journey. Comparable mission around rehabilitation and resettlement, and listed as a sector connection in Bounce Back's partnership list.
- Working Chance: UK charity supporting people with criminal convictions into sustained employment. Directly comparable in the ex-offender employment-placement niche, though with a broader sector focus beyond construction.
Emerging players
- Prisoners' Education Trust: UK charity funding and supporting prisoners to access education courses. Comparable in the prison-education and rehabilitation niche, with a more education-focused rather than employment-focused model.
Broad incumbents
- Catch22: Large UK social business operating across justice, education and employability services including rehabilitation programmes. Comparable resettlement and employment-focused work for offender cohorts.
- Change Grow Live: Large UK social charity delivering substance misuse, criminal justice, and rehabilitation services nationally. Comparable in supporting ex-offenders and named in Bounce Back's partnership documentation as a support-network collaborator.
- Sodexo Justice Services: Global private operator running prison and justice services contracts in the UK and internationally. Broadly comparable as an institutional provider of prison-based rehabilitation and training programmes at scale.
Others
- Clinks: UK infrastructure body supporting the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. Comparable as an ecosystem player — Bounce Back lists Clinks as a sector connection — providing funding information, networks and advocacy rather than direct service delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bounce Back social profiles
Digital presenceBounce Back financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bounce Back leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bounce Back funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bounce Back M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bounce Back
What does Bounce Back do?
Bounce Back is a UK charity and social enterprise delivering vocational construction-trade training (painting and decorating, dry lining, multi-skills), supported employment through a painting and decorating social enterprise, and one-to-one Employment and Support Coaching for people in prison and after release. Its "Through the Gate" model engages participants with coaches and prospective employers up to six months before release, complemented by wraparound support for mental health, substance misuse, and housing. Special projects (Out for Good, Mind the Gap, DIVERT, Explore/Beyond Prison Walls) address diversion, case management, construction employment, and STEM engagement respectively.
Is Bounce Back a public or private company?
Bounce Back is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bounce Back founded?
Bounce Back was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bounce Back based?
Bounce Back is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bounce Back make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grants and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are social Enterprise Revenue and government Contracts.
Who are Bounce Back's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Forward Trust, Novus, The Clink Charity, PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust) and Working Chance. Prisoners' Education Trust is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Catch22, Change Grow Live and Sodexo Justice Services. Clinks is listed as an others.
Does Bounce Back have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bounce Back.
What industry is Bounce Back in?
Bounce Back's product category is Prison Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKANAH, Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management), with a secondary code of EDAAAOAG, Workforce Reentry Programs (Justice-Involved). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 7361.