By Katie Upton, Communications, Recycling Lives
“Recycling Lives gives you the things you need to build yourself up,” says Michael, an ex-offender who’s turned his life around with the help of Recycling Lives Charity & Social Enterprise.
The Charity delivers one of the most successful offender rehabilitation programs in the country. It empowers people like Michael to change their lives for the better, by equipping them with all the skills, opportunities and resources they need. Its prison program is unique in its approach and results, working alongside complementary community-based programs for ex-offenders, people in recovery from addiction, and those who have been, or are at risk of, being homeless.
Working in eleven prisons across the North West, North Wales, Yorkshire and the Midlands, it achieves reduced reoffending rates of <5% and supports up to 70% of its participants into employment – according to its 2023/24 Impact Report[1].
It runs seven recycling workshops across six of these – HMPs Kirkham, Lancaster Farms, Buckley Hall, Hatfield, Sudbury, and Styal. Participants are supported for at least six months prior to release, receiving guidance and advocacy for every area of their life with a view to moving into work and independent housing on release. The same wrap-around support is available to men and women working in prison-led workshops in HMPs Humber, Wealstun, Berwyn, and Foston Hall, too. And in HMP Preston, the Charity offers through-the-gate support for men as they prepare for release and then resettle in the community
Real-world work experience
Work is key to the offering, giving people the chance to improve skills, gain work experience, and earn an enhanced wage within prison. This also sets people up with the steady routine and structure that supports reduced risk of reoffending on release. The Charity has built up a network of employer partners who then take on participants on ROTL (Release On Temporary License allows inmates to leave prison temporarily, under license conditions, to attend work, home visits, or healthcare appointments) or after release, including businesses across the construction, manufacturing, logistics and care sectors.
Access to savings
Another central tenet to the Charity’s offering is access to a savings scheme, for participants to set aside at least 40% of their earnings ready for release. This sees participants save up at least £10 per-week, with those working in the Charity’s recycling workshops or completing ROTL ‘day release’ work placements tending to save much more.
The savings scheme was pivotal for Michael, who was supported into work and housing after leaving HMP Hatfield. He was apprehensive of Recycling Lives’s (RL) offering to begin with, though: “I was really worried about release so Recycling Lives sounded really good, but I did take it with a pinch of salt because I’d had bad experiences with people who’ve offered support before,” he explains.
He began working in one of RL’s recycling workshops before being put forward for a ROTL work placement. He worked there in the lead up to release, saving up £1,200, and has stayed on since: “I had to stay in a hostel at first but I could afford to go to watch the football, buy myself some clothes and the other bits I needed. Then I found my own housing and I could use my own earnings to pay for that,” he says.
“RL gives you the things that can build you up.”
The savings scheme helped Peter to seize a work opportunity on release from HMP Wealstun.
He signed up to work with RL to give him hope and a goal after he’d been knocked back by parole for release, as an IPP offender – meaning he was handed an indeterminate sentence under the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) scheme so did not have a release date to work towards. Being supported by RL’s team, while working in a prison-led workshop, not only gave him access to the savings scheme, but helped to build a case for his next parole board hearing.
Peter later completed a traffic management training course which led to a full-time job.
Using the £700 he’d saved up, he got his car back on the road after release, while RL secured him grant funding to put down a deposit on a flat.
“Now I’ve got money, my own place, a new girlfriend, and my kids are in my life. Everything’s perfect,” he reflects. “I’ll never forget that when I really needed it, RL helped me.”
Personalised wrap-around support
RL’s team comprises a range of professionals, including mental health, employment and housing workers, some with lived experience of the challenges facing participants. The support they offer empowers participants to maintain abstinence, improve wellbeing, work with statutory services, complete training, undertake volunteering, secure paid work, move into stable housing, settle debts, rekindle family relationships, and much more.
Having a wide range of support was essential for Tim. He was determined not to end up back in prison, but knew – with a long history of offending, drug addiction and street homelessness – he needed help: “I was in a hostel with no job, not loads of money, and no family around me. So to get some help was massive.”
He was referred to the Charity’s community-based rehabilitation program by his probation worker and completed an eight-week paid work placement with one of RL’s employer partners. This gave him real-world work experience, new skills and a good reference, but it was the personal support and guidance he valued most.
“At the placement, they gave me a lot of support. I’ve never had that before – people giving me time of day. They gave me a shot and a chance to show that I can work.”
He’s now working part-time: “I’ve still got a way to go, but if it wasn’t for Recycling Lives, I’d be back in prison.”
Residential and peer-to-peer support
As well as the prison- and community-based rehabilitation programs, Recycling Lives Charity also delivers a residential program for men at risk of homelessness, and professional and peer-to-peer support for people with histories of addiction.
Mick was referred to the latter’s weekly mutual aid group when he was moved to Preston by probation: “I’m not from round here so I needed to build up connections. I went along and got a nice warm welcome,” he says.
He is now part of a volunteer team giving talks to students, healthcare professionals and young people about addiction, offending and recovery: “My story’s nothing to be proud of, but if sharing it can change someone else’s future – stop them from hurting others, using drugs or ending up in jail – that’s good.
“I still go to the group every week, too. It’s built my confidence up, and I’ve made friendships and good connections.”
Changing lives
All of these elements combined allow the Charity to deliver its unrivalled results for hundreds of people every year. For Mandy, the combination of different services and consistency of support has been life-changing since being released from HMP Foston Hall: “To have that constant in my life, people who cared and wanted to help, meant so much. I had no-one and nothing when I left prison, but RL was always there for me with everything from homewares and housing guidance, to mental health support, advocacy with the courts, or just catching up for a brew. The approach they offer can really, really help people.”
To learn more, visit: www.recyclinglives.org
Katie Upton is a communications consultant and journalist. She has worked with social enterprises in the rehabilitation, criminal justice and youth work sectors for 10 years, helping organisations to share their stories and impact to connect with partners, supporters, and funders.
References
[1] https://www.recyclinglives.org/our-impact/impact-report-2023-24/
