Addressing a System at the Point of Crisis

The context for this launch could not be more urgent. The UK justice sector is currently managing “archaic human warehouses” rather than facilities of rehabilitation. With national recidivism rates exceeding 80% over a nine-year period and an annual economic burden of £19.5 billion, the system is at a breaking point.

Furthermore, a critical staffing crisis has left frontline officers feeling they are “dicing with death every day”. Research suggests that prison violence and reoffending are often rooted in “bottom-up” cognitive deficits, high impulsivity and poor focus, that traditional education fails to address.

The ENHANCE Solution: A “Software Update” for the Brain

The ENHANCE programme represents a new concept in rehabilitation. Rather than focusing on past behaviour, it targets future potential by improving the brain’s fundamental architecture.

Using BrainHQ, a world-class neurocognitive training platform developed by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr Michael Merzenich and used by NASA and the US Military, ENHANCE improves brain health to increase cognition, wellbeing, and agency.

Social Proof: Startling Results at HMP Stoke Heath

The evaluation report shared at Westminster provides compelling evidence that improving fundamental cognitive skills directly leads to positive behaviour change. Delivered in a bespoke ENHANCE Studio refurbished by our partners at Wates Construction, the pilot at HMP Stoke Heath delivered the following results:

• • Institutional Behaviour: 91% of participants maintained or improved their official behavioural status.

• • Safety First: Within the participant cohort, “Use of Force” incidents were completely eliminated (a 100% reduction) post-completion, alongside a 62.5% reduction in adjudications.

• • Cognitive Gains: Participants achieved an average +24 percentile improvement in attention, +20 in processing speed, and +16 in working memory.

• • Recidivism Potential: While UK reoffending remains high, our broader research into this cognitive coaching model has seen recidivism rates as low as 2%.
    
    

Building a Different Future

Former HMP Stoke Heath Governor Mark Greenhaf noted that these significant results contributed to a more constructive institutional behaviour and a positive prison environment.

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to our speakers, delegates, and our partners at Wates for their commitment to evidence-led innovation. As we scale this model across the UK prison estate, our mission remains clear: to equip people with the skills needed to move from a state of surviving to one of truly thriving.Wellbeing > Mindset > Performance.