Getting back on track
One bad decision changed Earl's life. Having had a series of jobs, he ran out of work and luck and into the wrong people. As a result, Earl found himself at the wrong end of a seven year prison sentence. With time to think, he decided to turn the negative into a positive and use the experience to make more of himself.
Inspired by the dream of starting his own removals business, Earl got busy studying Numeracy, English and Business Studies. He also got his HGV and Fork Lift licences. As a model inmate, he won a place at a more 'open' unit and is about to study Computerised Accounts.
To help his job prospects, Earl also started volunteering through Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea's Offender Re-Settlement scheme. Asked to work for 20 days at Furnish - a charity store for donating and re-allocating furniture to the needy, Earl has already clocked up 4 months there. He soon became a valued member of the team and trustworthy enough to drive the van on its rounds and have his own team. The work has increased his parole prospects, gained glowing references for job interviews and taught him valuable lessons about running a business. Perhaps most important of all, it's given Earl back his self-respect, as he explains:
“When I started here I thought that everyone would label me but they only judged me on what they saw and it feels fantastic to be both trusted and valued. I'm really determined to do everything I can to run my own business and this is helping me big time. I know that if I keep trying, a door will open somewhere.”
Earl has certainly learned a lot from his time behind closed doors. Thanks to volunteering and determination, he certainly holds the key to future success.
Andrew Croxford Resettlement Scheme Manager
Helping positive thinkers like Earl is the whole point of our Offenders Re-Settlement Scheme. We try to create a seamless transition to employment by seeing offenders months before their release date and finding them suitable and vocational experience from a range of over 200 voluntary organisations on our books. As well as finding them work, we'll help in many other areas such as interview techniques and CV building.
This is much more than conventional community work for offenders. It's volunteering with job pathway experience.