Despite promising to build a further 14,000 spaces, the government has acknowledged that it can’t build its way out of the dilemma, resulting in the early release of thousands of prisoners.
The latest releases on the 22 October aimed to free up 5,500 spaces across England and Wales.
However, are enough preventative measures in place to keep London’s at risk youth out of prison? And does the system provide enough aftercare to ensure that prison leavers don’t re-offend?
The Dusty Knuckle bakery in Dalston is part of a programme in collaboration with charity Switchback, aiming to help young prison leavers facing significant barriers to employment.
City News spoke to Ahmed, 27, a recent beneficiary of the programme, now working as an assistant at the Dalston Bakery.
“It’s helped keep me out of trouble, its helped get me a job, get me employment- put some money in my pocket. Its taught me skills; how to work in a team. That having a job is not that bad” he said of the programme.
With 3-4 trainees arriving every 12 weeks, The Dusty Knuckle is used as a stepping stone where ex-convicts can ground themselves, gain experience and familiarity within the workspace.
However, Ahmed felt there wasn’t enough done from an early age by the government:
“Now it’s too late. I’m 27 now. Now I’ve got this youth training programme, I’ve got support at 27 years old, but I should have had this support at like 13, 14. Why has it taken me to go to jail, have my life derailed, for me to have these programmes put in front of me?”
Ahmed believes programmes should start in primary schools “it’s the little kids- that’s who they really need to help. Whatever you teach the little kid, is what it grows up to be. Its monkey see, monkey do.”
He further emphasises that the current system is “reactive; not proactive.”
“You need a proactive reaction when it comes to these things cos you can actually cut it at the root.”
“There’s a big correlation between when youth clubs shut and crime going up. Back in the day they used to be open everywhere, there was government funding for them. They used to be open from after school to until midnight just to keep kids off the street”
A large number of Britain’s youth clubs have closed in the past decade, with cuts to youth services rising consistently since 2010. From 2011 to 2023, 130 clubs were lost in London alone according to City Hall.
In a survey by the charity London Youth, 26% of youth organisations in London said that they only had enough funds to operate for the next six months.
Almost half of the respondents (44%) said they only had enough resources for one year.
Every 12 weeks the Dusty Knuckle Bakery welcome young prison leavers, helping them find their fresh start. (CREDIT: Alessio Paolucci)
When asked if he had any help from the prison services in rehabilitation Ahmed replied “Nah there’s no rehabilitation in that place. There’s nothing. Just punishment.”
He went on to add “They give you courses but they’re ridiculous. You’d laugh at it. People only do the courses to go through the motions, because they’re obligated to do it; they’re mandatory, to get out of prison.”
Despite the lack of progress he made on government schemes, Ahmed remains hopeful thanks to the scheme set up by switchback.
“My ambitions for the future is to be successful, stay out of prison and stay on the straight and narrow”
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Short Headline
Standfirst
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HeadlineThe London Bakery helping young prison leavers find their feet
Short HeadlineThe London Bakery helping young prison leavers
Standfirst“What’s the biggest thing that you hear? Once you go prison you can never get a job again, you’re life’s ruined’’
Despite promising to build a further 14,000 spaces, the government has acknowledged that it can’t build its way out of the dilemma, resulting in the early release of thousands of prisoners.
The latest releases on the 22 October aimed to free up 5,500 spaces across England and Wales.
However, are enough preventative measures in place to keep London’s at risk youth out of prison? And does the system provide enough aftercare to ensure that prison leavers don’t re-offend?
The Dusty Knuckle bakery in Dalston is part of a programme in collaboration with charity Switchback, aiming to help young prison leavers facing significant barriers to employment.
City News spoke to Ahmed, 27, a recent beneficiary of the programme, now working as an assistant at the Dalston Bakery.
“It’s helped keep me out of trouble, its helped get me a job, get me employment- put some money in my pocket. Its taught me skills; how to work in a team. That having a job is not that bad” he said of the programme.
With 3-4 trainees arriving every 12 weeks, The Dusty Knuckle is used as a stepping stone where ex-convicts can ground themselves, gain experience and familiarity within the workspace.
However, Ahmed felt there wasn’t enough done from an early age by the government:
“Now it’s too late. I’m 27 now. Now I’ve got this youth training programme, I’ve got support at 27 years old, but I should have had this support at like 13, 14. Why has it taken me to go to jail, have my life derailed, for me to have these programmes put in front of me?”
Ahmed believes programmes should start in primary schools “it’s the little kids- that’s who they really need to help. Whatever you teach the little kid, is what it grows up to be. Its monkey see, monkey do.”
He further emphasises that the current system is “reactive; not proactive.”
“You need a proactive reaction when it comes to these things cos you can actually cut it at the root.”
“There’s a big correlation between when youth clubs shut and crime going up. Back in the day they used to be open everywhere, there was government funding for them. They used to be open from after school to until midnight just to keep kids off the street”
A large number of Britain’s youth clubs have closed in the past decade, with cuts to youth services rising consistently since 2010. From 2011 to 2023, 130 clubs were lost in London alone according to City Hall.
In a survey by the charity London Youth, 26% of youth organisations in London said that they only had enough funds to operate for the next six months.
Almost half of the respondents (44%) said they only had enough resources for one year.
Every 12 weeks the Dusty Knuckle Bakery welcome young prison leavers, helping them find their fresh start. (CREDIT: Alessio Paolucci)
When asked if he had any help from the prison services in rehabilitation Ahmed replied “Nah there’s no rehabilitation in that place. There’s nothing. Just punishment.”
He went on to add “They give you courses but they’re ridiculous. You’d laugh at it. People only do the courses to go through the motions, because they’re obligated to do it; they’re mandatory, to get out of prison.”
Despite the lack of progress he made on government schemes, Ahmed remains hopeful thanks to the scheme set up by switchback.
“My ambitions for the future is to be successful, stay out of prison and stay on the straight and narrow”
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