“It’s in the name: time for change”: exploring experiences of an intervention for young adults through an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Purpose Young adults are overrepresented within UK prison populations where they have poorer relationships with staff, are less likely to be involved in purposeful activity and are overrepresented in violent incidents. Time4Change (T4C) is a group intervention specifically tailored for young adults in prison. This study aims to determine how prisoners experienced T4C, what they felt they gained from it and whether it impacted staff–prisoner relationships. Design/methodology/approach A purposive sampling method was used to identify participants across three homogeneous subgroups: young adults who completed T4C (n = 5), staff who attended T4C discussions (n = 3) and wing officers who worked with young adults on T4C (n = 3). Participants were interviewed individually using a semi-structured interview schedule, and their transcripts were subjected to multiperspective interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings Three Group Experiential Themes emerged. Empowering transformation focused on the extent to which T4C provided a psychologically safe environment to share openly, the relatability of topics and how they were presented. Changing identities reflected a sense of hope and self-confidence for a crime-free future and skill development. Cultivating community represented expanding personal networks and developing more respectful staff–prisoner relationships. Practical implications This research provides insight into how T4C was experienced and identifies recommendations for its implementation. Originality/value Research regarding interventions for young adults within a custodial setting remains limited. This study contributes to the knowledge base and provides further considerations for delivering interventions tailored to this population.