While working for these services the Directors ran some workshops in HMP Lewes and noticed a big gap in provision both in prison and through the gate for offenders. Once the Directors’ respective services were ended as business link was reorganised, they formed the company with a view to putting together a tailored self-employment programme for offenders. Firstly, they invited the University of Brighton Criminology department to help them run focus groups with prisoners in HMP Lewes and HMP Ford. This helped identify the barriers and the see how a programme would be developed.
The research identified prisoners required not only intensive support in terms of business skills and confidence building within the prison, but also “through the gate” support as well. It was also found that strategies for additional barriers such as literacy, drugs and alcohol had to addressed in tandem. Research also identified that as the job market tightens self employment is becoming more of an option for prisoners.
Enterprise for Change then developed a tailored programme combining one to many workshops (Introduction to self employment, business planning, sales and marketing) with intensive one2one enterprise coaching before release. When the prisoners are released they still get the one2one mentoring from the same advisers they worked with in the prison. This continuity is key. The programme also looks to train successful students as peer to peer business mentors for prisoners going through the programme in the future. The programme also includes coordinated sign posting to complimentary agencies to address other barriers. Enterprise for Change are also building a social network (enterprise club) which all students can sign up to and exchange experiences and advice while they start up their business.
Serco had expressed an interest in the scheme and contact was made with the contract manager for the Job Deal contract in the South East. Serco were looking for innovative pilots and Enterprise for Change proposal was accepted. The scheme is a mixture of retainer payments and payment by results. We have had the full backing of the prison since the scheme’s inception and they are very keen to continue if successful.
Enterprise for Change will be working with 50 prisoners over 6 months. The criteria is that they have to be released before Dec 2011 as we need to evaluate the impact of the intervention both inside and through the gate. The first cohort is now going through the workshop programme and we have enough applicants for the next set. If the pilot is successful Enterprise for Change will be looking to expand the programme both in HMP Lewes and other prisons.
We aim to support the offenders into sustainable self-employment. The benefits to the offender will be to gain self respect, gain the respect of their community and break the cycle of re-offending.
Enterprise for Change are also Work Programme partners in London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex so will also be looking to work with ex-offenders seeking self employment in these areas.
Check out the website here: http://www.enterpriseforchange.org.uk/ourservices.html
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