Covers all of Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Building Choices is a cognitive-behavioural programme, consisting of group and one to one sessions. Determined by an assessment of risk and need, The programme supports skill development in emotion management, healthy thinking, healthy relationships, sense of purpose, and healthy sex where relevant.

Building Choices provides a structured opportunity to learn, strengthen and practice skills and behaviour that targets areas of common criminogenic need without defining or limiting what participants can address by offence labels. A need led approach enables participants to personalise criminogenic needs by considering how areas apply specifically to themselves and what skills will personally be important to develop. Overall, Building Choices enables participants to develop skills for change and future focused goals that may support them in building a crime free life.

Who it is for

The programme is suitable for all genders aged 18 and above, who are assessed as posing a medium or high risk of causing serious harm. And it is suitable for people with Learning Disability and Challenges (LDC).

How to refer

Referral into the programme is made at court and ordered by the presiding judge and/or pre-sentencing recommendations and forms part of the sentencing requirement for individuals in the criminal justice system. Alternatively, it can be a licence requirement for those being released from custody on Licence.