our history
1977 – Our work is first set up by national charity NACRO as an advisory service for ex-offenders and those about to leave prison
1978 – Our education project is set up on its own premises off Oxford Road, and is named ‘Manchester Education Resettlement Centre’
1980s – The MERC education service reaches around 500 ex-offenders each year. The MERC model is copied nationally with education centres set up in several cities in the UK.
1991 – NACRO changes its focus and the staff at the education centre decide to set up a charity to ensure that the education work can continue
1992 – We become an independent, registered charity, named NEARIS (Northern Education and Resettlement Information Services)
1997 – NEARIS sets up mini education centres in Salford, Oldham and Bolton in partnership with the Probation service
2002 – NEARIS start running outreach courses in hostels and day centre settings
2007 – David Haley, the founder of the work, retires as Director after 30 years’ service, to be replaced by David Fisher
2009 – We change our name to ‘Back on Track’, to better reflect who we are and what we do
2010 – We are awarded two quality marks: the matrix standard (for careers guidance) and the Approved Provider Standard (for mentoring and befriending)