A group of ex-offenders employed by firms in Somerset have climbed Glastonbury Tor to help raise awareness of a charity that offers employability training to prisoners in efforts to stop re-offending.
The nine men are all graduates of a rehabilitation programme run by Key4Life, which is headquartered in Butleigh and also has offices in Bristol and London.
The organisation, which has received the support of England international rugby players Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson, and musician Nile Rodgers, aims to prevent offenders from returning to crime when they are released.
The group raised a flag at the top of the hill promoting the charity’s ‘Younited Flag’ campaign, which awards companies that have employed an ex-offender for more than six months.
Among the group was 27-year-old Liam, who said he was “hugely grateful” to Key4Life for an introduction to Somerset yogurt brand Yeo Valley, where he worked for three years. Liam has since set up his own burger and ice cream van business in partnership with both organisations.
Research carried out by YouGov and the Department for Work and Pensions in 2016 found that 50% of employers would not hire ex-offenders.
Key4Life said reoffending cost the 海角视频 Government £18.1bn a year. It added that 60% of graduates from its programme are gainfully employed while only 16% of participants have re-offended.
Callum, 24, graduated from the Key4Life At Risk programme in July this year before securing a job at Tommy Hilfiger in Clarks Village in Street.
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Callum said: “I think lots of companies are afraid not be the statistics and to be part of the solution. Yet it’s incredible to see companies slowly making that change to help ex-offenders and those at risk.
“I urge more companies to see that giving jobs to men with convictions is not a crime, it’s a crime not to.”
Key4Life said the impact of the pandemic on the charity sector had meant it was now in “urgent need” of funds to continue its work.
Eva Hamilton founder and chief executive of Key4Life, said: “With employment being the single most important factor in helping prevent ex-offenders from falling back into a life of crime, our 999 Appeal is asking everyone out there to make a donation – small or large - to help us continue our work unlocking jobs for ex-offenders.
“In this tough pandemic time of widespread job scarcity, finding jobs for ex-offenders is more vital than ever, and the most effective way to break the cycle of crime.”
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