Ex-cons get jobs help

OFFENDERS are to be offered help to rebuild their lives by finding employment after their release from prison.

The £35,000 initiative at Leicester prison comes as figures show only 17 per cent of offenders find a job within a year of release.

The #Free – Fair-Chance Recruitment Empowering Employment – charter was signed at City Hall last week by mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, police and crime commissioner Lord (Willy) Bach, and Amy Bruce, the regional lead for the Department for Work and Pensions.

All urged employers to back the scheme and give prison leavers the chance of a better life.

Lord Bach said: “Rehabilitation of ex-offenders plays a vital role in crime prevention.

“Some people make mistakes. They are often punished for those mistakes with a spell in prison, but it makes no sense for them to be shunned by employers and written off.

“Ex-offenders must be given a chance to reset their lives. This scheme is an exciting development and I encourage employers across the city and county to sign up to the charter and get involved.”

Government figures show that re-offending rates are 9 per cent

Cares and ex-offender support organisation APM.

Deputy police and crime commissioner Kirk Master said: “I want to see employers in Leicester deal with criminal records fairly and recruit more people with previous convictions. This can pay dividends for everyone involved. “The fair chance recruitment approach encourages this and I’m pleased our active support for this work has helped take things to the next level.” Bakers Waste Services Ltd has a track record of employing ex-offenders. Director Paul Baker said: “We believe in our approach to recruiting exoffenders due to the overwhelmingly positive results received from doing just this over a period of many years.

“In almost every case the business has received an appreciative, loyal and determined employee, which often has a ripple effect throughout the team members and is inducive of a positive and motivational atmosphere.” Employers interested in supporting the charter can do so at: