Purpose

GMCA, as lead commissioner with HMPPS/Greater Manchester Probation, has agreed to extend funding for the Pick Up at the Gate Wellbeing Service for 2026/27. The service complements the GMIRS Wellbeing Service by supporting people on probation at the point of release, helping to address immediate resettlement barriers and support compliance with licence requirements.

The Big Life Group will remain the lead provider for the GMIRS Wellbeing Service. The additional funding will be added as a variation to the existing Wellbeing Service arrangements for 2026/27, enabling continued delivery of meet-at-the-gate support.

Referrals will come from Probation Practitioners or pre-release teams. The service will support people returning to Greater Manchester from custody by helping with safe transport, attendance at initial probation appointments, access to wellbeing support, and links to services such as accommodation, benefits, employment, training and education, family support, and local authority commissioned provision where appropriate.

The service will continue to support people on probation released to Greater Manchester from relevant prisons, including HMP Styal, HMP Berwyn, HMP Forest Bank, HMP Hindley, HMP Buckley Hall, HMP/YOI Lancaster Farms, HMP Risley, HMP Altcourse and HMP Manchester.

Support may include meeting individuals at the gate on release, arranging transport to approved accommodation, an Approved Premises or CAS-3 property, a Probation Delivery Unit, a Wellbeing Hub or another agreed destination, and addressing immediate issues that may affect compliance, safety and resettlement.

The extension aims to improve attendance at first and second probation-related appointments, support compliance, reduce early recall, identify and respond to immediate needs on release, and ensure individuals are not left without safe transport where release has been notified.
Monthly contract review meetings and monitoring forms will track delivery, spend and outcomes.

Referrals will be considered where support is needed beyond current IRS provision. The Provider will discuss any additional need with the Probation Practitioner and ensure support is appropriate to the person’s circumstances.

The provider, Big Life, will respond to immediate release needs, including safe transport, probation engagement and links to wellbeing, accommodation and local services.

The Provider will also identify diversity-related needs, respond to disproportionality where relevant, and work with GMCA and Greater Manchester Probation to ensure the service remains appropriate throughout the funding period.

Decision

The Big Life Group be awarded £106,000 as the lead provider for the provision of the ‘Pick Up at the Gate’ Wellbeing Service for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, funded by Greater Manchester Probation through the Memorandum of Understanding between GMCA and the Ministry of Justice.