Two former prisoners have told a Government minister how they have turned their lives around and started a social enterprise to help ex-convicts.
With more than a quarter of criminals proven to reoffend, Grant Doyle and Mark Hirst decided to do something about it following their release from prison.. They reach out to low and medium risk prisoners early in their sentences, providing them with mentoring and training, and work placements in real companies soon after they are released.
Last week, they met Lord Michael Bates, the Minister for Criminal Information to discuss their work, which is supported by Conservative parliamentary candidate for Morley & Outwood, Andrea Jenkyns, Morley-based Associated Waste Management and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)..
Lord Bates was told how Mr Doyle and Mr hirst’s enterprise will be working with Ms Jenkyns, the Prison Service, DWP and local employers.
“It was great to come to Morley to see the hard work Andrea is doing to support crime prevention and prisoner rehabilitation,” Lord Bates said..
“It is vital for any such project to have a committed local champion.”
Ms Jenkyns said: “I believe in tough sentences and more support for the victims of crime, and I also believe reforming first time offenders is the key to further reducing the crime rate.
“Prison should not be an easy ride, but given many prisoners can’t read or write, something needs to be done to get them ready for honest work in real companies, that’s where Out4Sucess will make the difference.”