Social Enterprise cafes and bakeries located in London are looking to tackle ex-convicts reoffending by reducing barriers into employment post-release.
In 2022, adults released from custodial sentences of less than 12 months had a reoffending rate of over 50%.
As reoffending rates rise, overcrowded prisons are being pushed to their limits.
Feel Good Coffee House based in south west London and The Dusty Knuckle bakery in north London are two social enterprise cafes.
They are playing their role to tackle the revolving door of the prison system, through the training and hiring of young ex-offenders.
Those who want to help
City News spoke to Matthew Fleming, the owner of Feel Good Coffee House who spoke about how the social enterprise operates.
City News speaking to Matthew Fleming CREDIT: Zhara Keogh-Behan
We pride ourselves in employing young people who face barriers into employment whether that’s if they have offended or likely to offend […] the job market is quite difficult and if you don’t have the necessary foundations at home to support you into employment, its really tricky.
Matthew believes there is a stigma around employers hiring people who have previously committed a crime and gone to jail.
Since 2014 we have worked with over 100 young people who have offended who were at risk and we maintain contact with them. The biggest challenge we face is finding other employers to support them after the Feel Good bakery.
City News spoke to Charlie Atkinson, The Dusty Knuckles youth training programme leader.
She addressed how hiring young offenders can be safely implemented into business practice across the country.
If we can do it and still grow, still be a good employer and still make good food there’s no reason why every business cant commit to employing five people that have been in prison every year […] it can diversify the workforce. For profit businesses can invest in social causes.
The Dusty Knuckle in North London CREDIT: Lucy Knolls
Charlie believes her programme can help other businesses who are anxious of hiring past offenders.
if businesses are frightened with working with people who have just come out of prison then reach out to us. We have training practices, we can tell you how we did it and how much richer it makes your business.
What next
Both owners said cafes shouldn’t be the solution.
Social enterprises show they can implement effort into causes such as rehabilitating ex-convicts outside the prison walls.
Questions are raised to whether the government could be doing more to prepare those inside jail if they are released early, to not only reduce public fears of reoffending, but how they can find work post release.
Submitted Article
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Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineBrewing futures: Roasters offer ex-convicts barista jobs to reduce reoffending
Short Headline Social enterprise cafes aim to ease prison crisis
StandfirstData shows upskilling convicts in barista training can aid rehabilitation.
Social Enterprise cafes and bakeries located in London are looking to tackle ex-convicts reoffending by reducing barriers into employment post-release.
In 2022, adults released from custodial sentences of less than 12 months had a reoffending rate of over 50%.
As reoffending rates rise, overcrowded prisons are being pushed to their limits.
Feel Good Coffee House based in south west London and The Dusty Knuckle bakery in north London are two social enterprise cafes.
They are playing their role to tackle the revolving door of the prison system, through the training and hiring of young ex-offenders.
Those who want to help
City News spoke to Matthew Fleming, the owner of Feel Good Coffee House who spoke about how the social enterprise operates.
City News speaking to Matthew Fleming CREDIT: Zhara Keogh-Behan
We pride ourselves in employing young people who face barriers into employment whether that’s if they have offended or likely to offend […] the job market is quite difficult and if you don’t have the necessary foundations at home to support you into employment, its really tricky.
Matthew believes there is a stigma around employers hiring people who have previously committed a crime and gone to jail.
Since 2014 we have worked with over 100 young people who have offended who were at risk and we maintain contact with them. The biggest challenge we face is finding other employers to support them after the Feel Good bakery.
City News spoke to Charlie Atkinson, The Dusty Knuckles youth training programme leader.
She addressed how hiring young offenders can be safely implemented into business practice across the country.
If we can do it and still grow, still be a good employer and still make good food there’s no reason why every business cant commit to employing five people that have been in prison every year […] it can diversify the workforce. For profit businesses can invest in social causes.
The Dusty Knuckle in North London CREDIT: Lucy Knolls
Charlie believes her programme can help other businesses who are anxious of hiring past offenders.
if businesses are frightened with working with people who have just come out of prison then reach out to us. We have training practices, we can tell you how we did it and how much richer it makes your business.
What next
Both owners said cafes shouldn’t be the solution.
Social enterprises show they can implement effort into causes such as rehabilitating ex-convicts outside the prison walls.
Questions are raised to whether the government could be doing more to prepare those inside jail if they are released early, to not only reduce public fears of reoffending, but how they can find work post release.
After an investigation by the Met Police, six people have been charged with links to the PKK and will appear in Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
