Moving personal testimony demonstrating how employment can help ex-offenders get their lives back on track after completing their sentences was showcased at the High Sheriff of Kent’s Employment Forum last week.
The forum, entitled ‘Changing Perspectives, Creating Opportunities’, was hosted by the High Sheriff Jonathan Neame at the Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham on Thursday February 5.
Around 60 people, including representatives from Kent’s six prisons, local employers, the Probation Service and former offenders, gathered to hear first-hand accounts of employing ex-offenders – shared by ex-offenders themselves, businesses, and Prison and Probation Service staff.
The aim was to share the benefits with others, inspire other employers to consider giving ex-offenders a chance and to expand the opportunities that others already offer.
Gary Price, governor of HMP Elmley, which has just over 1,000 inmates, spoke of the benefits to offenders’ self-esteem of having employment and the benefits to society too: “They are doing something that is not just great for themselves but for society as a whole.
“We need to get the message out there that we believe in people, that people can change and that we believe people can lead a successful life. We have to treat every individual with the chance that we would want someone in our family to have.”
The forum heard that many ex-offenders faced stigma once their sentence was completed, and some were apprehensive to share their criminal record for fear of rejection for a job or losing one they had.
Harry Clark, co-head of reducing reoffending at HMP Elmley, said it was crucial for society to give everyone the opportunity: “A job can really be the difference between rebuilding a life and falling back between the cracks. When someone has a job, a routine, they are significantly less likely to reoffend.”
Nick Hadriss of COOK Trading Ltd shared an honest account of his struggles with his mental health, before spending time in prison and finally working with the company: “I don’t know where I’d be without COOK. I’d certainly be in a much worse place. If we are only going to look at what people have done in the past, how, as a society, are we going to move forward?”
Jake Ervin, director at Limebird Recruitment, spoke about working with employers, including Shepherd Neame, to recruit in the hospitality trade, while Chantal Chandler, pub projects and people manager at Shepherd Neame, discussed working with 10 pubs across the brewer’s estate, which have employed 30 both serving and ex-offenders over the last 18 months.
Chantal said: “This isn’t about charity – it is investing in people with true loyalty and something to prove. Often they become the most committed employees you have.”
Among the ex-offenders sharing their stories was Mossy Sturgess of Porchlight, who talked of his 20 years in and out of prison before volunteering and eventually being given employment.
Mossy said: “When someone comes and says ‘I believe in you – let me help you get through’, it’s amazing. In my younger years, I was told I was bad and naughty, and you start believing it. You live up to that expectation. We have to break down barriers, break the mould and give somebody a chance. Let’s do that between us.”
After all 21 speakers had addressed the forum, Jonathan Neame, who is also chief executive of Shepherd Neame, said: “We have heard some extraordinary testimony, some incredible lived experiences. I challenge everyone to go away a bit better informed and share this with your networks. Kent can lead the way.”
