Case Study
Supporting Hope and Opportunity through Employment
Wingspan
Project:
Hope and Opportunity
Project
Prison supported:
HMP Chelmsford
Target group:
Ex-offenders and the
long-term unemployed
”It is for these people that there must be hope Context and Objectivess
and opportunity. Employment is a key part
Community Works is a not-for-profit social
of that hope and opportunity as it provides an Wingspan
enterprise which has been operating since January 2010.
income, self respect and the chance to turn
The organisation's purpose is the provision of `hope and
away from crime and a reliance on benefits.” opportunity through employment' for those repeatedly
Tom Wolstenholme, Managing Director,
Wingspan Community Works
excluded from the jobs market. Ex-offenders, and the
long-term unemployed, are given the opportunity to work and
demonstrate that they can hold down a job for a sustained
period.
Top Tips
Wingspan adopts a wholly commercial business model with
the addition of mentoring and life-skills training by providing
ex-offenders and the long-term unemployed with real jobs in
a real company providing grounds maintenance, minor building
works, painting and decorating, and cleaning services to their
clients.
•
Communicationsiskey.Effectivecommunications
andamulti-agencyapproachwillresultinapositive
outcomeforex-offenders
•
Taketimetogettoknowtheex-offendersand
understandthechallengestheywillfacewhen
returningtotheemploymentmarket
•
Networkwithotherinterestedorconnectedgroupsto
sharebestpractice
This model fits in very well with Business in the Community's
The Right Step Project working in partnership with the
Prison and Probation Services to equip those who are
disadvantaged in finding work with the skills to gain
employment and move towards independent living. Wingspan
is working with HMP Chelmsford to help break the cycle of
re-offending and shed the social stigma associated with longterm joblessness, crime and reliance on benefits.
Activity
Within HMP Chelmsford, Wingspan utilise the services of
NACRO, Job Centre Plus and SEETEC to identify and
support ex-offenders into future employment. Wingspan
interview ex-offenders within the resettlement centre
and identify potential candidates to be employed by the
organisation.
Upon release, ex-offenders begin work at Wingspan as paid
employees in a number of jobs and continue to work within
the organisation for a minimum of six months. During that
time, they receive continuous support to help them become
more employable when they are ready to move on. Support
includes life skills, one-to-one mentoring, educational skills and
on the job training.
After a minimum of six months work, participants may be
employed as peer supervisors or given help to find permanent
employment with Chelmsford business partners.
Ex-offenders given the opportunity of work can once again
contribute positively to society resulting in breaking the cycle
of re-offending and shedding the social stigma associated
with long-term joblessness.
Impacts and Outcomes
Since setting up in January 2010, 14 individuals have
been employed on the programme, eight of whom were
ex-offenders and three have moved onto other long-term
jobs
One participant has gone onto a better paid job earning
30% more than previously and a 3-4 year specialist
training apprenticeship as a tree surgeon
A significant employer engagement partnership established
with HMP Chelmsford
Secured a contract with Chelmer Housing Partnership
resulting in £50,000 of paid work in year 1
Reputation - Shortlisted in the Business in the Community
East of England Awards 2011 for their employability work
with HMP Chelmsford
Wingspan's model fits well with the Ministry of Justice
Reducing Re-offending Agenda, due to the
multi-disciplinary approach to education, training and future
employment
Cost saving - in the last year, the cost savings to the
justice system and public purse has been £855,554
”A participant contacted me a week after
leaving to say: `Thanks to Wingspan for
giving me a job opportunity'. A week later
he was in touch again to say: `Actually, I
want to say more than thank you for the job
opportunity, but also thank you for restoring
my confidence in work and in life.
”For the ex-offenders, turned away by many
employers, this is an opportunity to gain a
clean period of employment and a good
reference.”
Tom Wolstenholme, Managing Director,
Wingspan Community Works
”Wingspan for us, fits in perfectly in its
methods of recruitment and support for
offenders being discharged from our
establishment. They are very much aware of
the issues which an ex-offender may face
and they are fully supportive of those needs,
including an awareness of any supervision on
Probation which the employee may have to fit
within a days work."
Next Steps and the Future
Followingthesuccessoftheprogramme,Wingspanhopes
tomoveintootherareasofworkofferingawiderrangeof
opportunitiesperhapsincluding,cateringandcarrepair.
WingspanwillcontinuetosupportHMPChelmsfordand
arenowincludedasaregularmemberoftheEssex
Employers'Forumandareregardedasanexampleof
goodpracticetonewpotentialemployers.Theyare
representativesforEssexonBITCRegionalEmployers'
Forum–tofacilitatehighleveldebatetohelpreducereoffendingandtofeedthatdebateintotheNationalForum.
Mark Mellor, Resettlement Manager, HMP Chelmsford
Business in the Community
Bank House
P O Box 93
Newmarket
Suffolk CB8 1ZN
T: +44 (0)1638 663272
F: +44 (0)1638 666841
E: [email protected]
For more information, please visit www.bitc.org.uk/east_of_england/programmes/right_step/index.html