Case-Study
HMP Dovegate
Case Study: Transformational Rehabilitation Through Positive Mindset
Overview
HMP Dovegate, a therapeutic prison focused on rehabilitation, partnered with Adz Khan to deliver a series of eight transformative workshops. With a reputation for reaching disengaged learners, Adz was invited to support the prison’s strategy to reduce reoffending, restore hope, and re-engage residents in education and self-development.
His work was quickly recognised as an example of tailored rehabilitation at its best—impactful, authentic, and long-lasting.
The Challenge
Like many prisons, HMP Dovegate faced the persistent challenge of disengagement. Many residents had negative past experiences with authority, education, or personal growth programmes. This often led to mistrust, low morale, and a lack of motivation to change.
The prison needed a voice that could cut through. Someone who had lived it, survived it, and turned it into purpose.
The Solution
Adz Khan brought credibility through experience and empathy through delivery. His workshops were more than presentations—they were interventions. By sharing his journey from a life sentence to national recognition as a personal trainer and speaker, Adz created a bridge between struggle and possibility.
Each session was carefully designed around core transformational themes:
•Positive Mindset and Mental Resilience
•Overcoming Adversity with Self-Belief
•Goal Setting and Self-Development
•Leadership and Decision-Making
•The Power of Education as a Lifeline
•Personal Responsibility and Change
Adz’s tailored approach allowed him to quickly build trust—especially among those who had previously rejected formal education.
Testimonial from Julie Butcher
Head of Education and Work Skills, HMP Dovegate
“Working with Adz has truly been an incredible experience. His dedication and commitment to understanding our needs have profoundly impacted the lives of our residents. He crafted a programme that wasn’t just engaging—it was transformational.
Adz has a unique ability to foster trust and explore the barriers that prevent engagement. His work has re-engaged many in education and training, enabling them to envision fulfilling roles beyond the prison gates.
The true measure of success is the transformation we’ve witnessed—reluctant learners are now choosing to grow, develop, and build new futures. Adz’s work goes beyond education. It embodies empowerment, resilience, and hope.”
Results
•Residents who were previously disengaged from education reconnected with learning.
•Uplift in morale, confidence, and purpose among participants.
•Ongoing classroom discussions and mindset shifts reported by staff.
•The workshops contributed to a wider cultural shift focused on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.
Conclusion
Adz Khan’s partnership with HMP Dovegate is proof that change is possible—even behind the highest walls. His lived experience and empowering delivery sparked self-belief in individuals who had long lost it.
These weren’t just mindset sessions—they were moments of transformation. His ability to shift thinking, rebuild confidence, and align personal responsibility with future goals is now embedded in the culture of Dovegate.
For prisons seeking meaningful, lived-experience-led rehabilitation, Adz Khan’s workshops are the blueprint.
If your institution is committed to genuine rehabilitation and reducing reoffending through powerful mindset programmes, book Adz Khan