PROPOSED RESTART PROGRAMME PILOT at HMP BRIXTON
Proposal Outline: We are seeking funding to pilot a new kind of programme in prisons, which brings together several succesful interventions. The aim is to prepare prisoners for self-employment on release. Our overriding aim is to reduce reoffending. The Restart Programme has several interwoven strands which, inside prison, develop “the man and a plan” and, on release, provide financial and practical support so the man can execute his plan. If the pilot is successful we want to raise funds to scale.
The Partners: We are all part of the Corbett Network, a group of Charities and Social Enterprises committed to collaborating, spreading best practice and innovating in order to close the gap between custody and community by providing employment.
Choirs Beating Time forms choirs in prisons – creating communities with happier, healthier minds, preparing members for work by building confidence, communication skills and relationships and developing commitment, focus and team work.
Enterprise Exchange specialises in helping people with additional barriers transform their lives by becoming self-employed or starting a business.
The Real Business Club supports and advises people launching and growing their own business, working with the Probation Service and other groups in need of greater support.
We are fortunate that Bounce Back which runs a construction workshop in HMP Brixton has invited us to pilot the programme with its students. Thus the men on the course will be simultaneously developing skills that can form the basis of a business.
The Pilot in detail
The pilot, will run for 10 weeks.
Up to 24 men will be able to join the pilot.
Evaluation: 8 men will just join The Enterprise Course: 8 men will just join The Choir: 8 men will join both. This will enable us to compare feedback and performance of those men that are doing both – with the men doing one or the other.
It will consist of:
Weekly enrichment, in the form of a choir and a self-organised concert at the end of the programme. The point of weekly group singing is it significantly alleviates stress and boosts mood, helping the participants to be mentally resilient. Singing with other people - getting good at something and performing - builds confidence, communication skills, commitment and the courage to operate outside your comfort zone. At the end of the 10 weeks the men will be asked to organise a Concert – finding a venue, audience, putting together a programme…they will have to make something happen in difficult circumstances and deliver.
An Enterprise Course. This tried and tested course is run by Enterprise Exchange, who with backing from the Centre For Entrepreneurs, have collaborated with other agencies to develop this very low cost, short, practical and effective course. It’s three full days, each a week apart to allow participants time to prepare work. It covers the differences between employment and self-employment, develops business and marketing ideas and results in a practical Business and Marketing Plan. It includes two extra coaching sessions on top of the 3 day course. Participants will present their business idea at the Concert.
As the Pilot is inside the prison it will not “test” the last three elements of the Restart Programme,
“Three Forms of Support on Release”:
A: Financial: Men that have been on the Programme, who go on to be released and wish to become self-employed, will be eligible for a small start-up Grant – which we hope to make from the fund we are looking to raise. Grants will be lodged with The Real Business Club to avoid abuse.
B: Practical: The Real Business Club will help men open bank accounts, get insurance, understand basic accounting and help with tax.
C: Mentoring: A mix of Real Business Club, Peer Mentors and Entrepreneurs.
WHY RESTART? WHY PRIVATE FUNDING? WHY NOW?
The Prison Population has doubled in 20 years. Government funding has fallen by 25%. Only 12% of employers knowingly employ ex-offenders. Employment/ Purpose is KEY to not falling back into crime and returning to prison. Depending on the demographic, 45%- 60% of prisoners reoffend. Enterprise Courses running in Germany and the USA achieve reoffending rates of 1-11%. Most prisoners want to work. Many prisoners are naturally entrepreneurial. All prisoners have barriers to employment, many of which are insurmountable. Self-employment is the self-evident answer to a lot of these problems.
However, many prisoners are serving long sentences. Our programme is also designed to give men who will NOT be released shortly (where the Government directs most of its money) purpose and hope; a reason to take up other opportunities in prison; a sense of belonging to a supportive, positive community (Choir) and a weekly dose of mood boosting/ stress busting music.
LONG-TERM GOAL: Our long-term goal is to significantly reduce reoffending among the Groups we work with.
SHORT-TERM GOAL: to raise a Fund which will enable us to run all the elements of the Restart Programme in the 5 prisons we work in on continual basis and expand into 3 more prisons. We aim to work with around 2000 men over that period over a 5 year period.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO RUN THE PILOT?
£8,000
Choir costs £300 per week: £3000.
One Enterprise Course + Materials costs: £3000.
Evaluation, recruitment of men and organisation: £2000
We already have a pledge of £2000 from a Choirs Beating Time Founder and are looking to raise £6000 from supporters of our four charities.
Heather Phillips: Choirs Beating Time
Phil Ashford: Enterprise Exchange
Benna McCartney: Enterprise Exchange
Isabel King: The Real Business Club
Fran Findlater: Bounce Back
Proposal Outline: We are seeking funding to pilot a new kind of programme in prisons, which brings together several succesful interventions. The aim is to prepare prisoners for self-employment on release. Our overriding aim is to reduce reoffending. The Restart Programme has several interwoven strands which, inside prison, develop “the man and a plan” and, on release, provide financial and practical support so the man can execute his plan. If the pilot is successful we want to raise funds to scale.
The Partners: We are all part of the Corbett Network, a group of Charities and Social Enterprises committed to collaborating, spreading best practice and innovating in order to close the gap between custody and community by providing employment.
Choirs Beating Time forms choirs in prisons – creating communities with happier, healthier minds, preparing members for work by building confidence, communication skills and relationships and developing commitment, focus and team work.
Enterprise Exchange specialises in helping people with additional barriers transform their lives by becoming self-employed or starting a business.
The Real Business Club supports and advises people launching and growing their own business, working with the Probation Service and other groups in need of greater support.
We are fortunate that Bounce Back which runs a construction workshop in HMP Brixton has invited us to pilot the programme with its students. Thus the men on the course will be simultaneously developing skills that can form the basis of a business.
The Pilot in detail
The pilot, will run for 10 weeks.
Up to 24 men will be able to join the pilot.
Evaluation: 8 men will just join The Enterprise Course: 8 men will just join The Choir: 8 men will join both. This will enable us to compare feedback and performance of those men that are doing both – with the men doing one or the other.
It will consist of:
Weekly enrichment, in the form of a choir and a self-organised concert at the end of the programme. The point of weekly group singing is it significantly alleviates stress and boosts mood, helping the participants to be mentally resilient. Singing with other people - getting good at something and performing - builds confidence, communication skills, commitment and the courage to operate outside your comfort zone. At the end of the 10 weeks the men will be asked to organise a Concert – finding a venue, audience, putting together a programme…they will have to make something happen in difficult circumstances and deliver.
An Enterprise Course. This tried and tested course is run by Enterprise Exchange, who with backing from the Centre For Entrepreneurs, have collaborated with other agencies to develop this very low cost, short, practical and effective course. It’s three full days, each a week apart to allow participants time to prepare work. It covers the differences between employment and self-employment, develops business and marketing ideas and results in a practical Business and Marketing Plan. It includes two extra coaching sessions on top of the 3 day course. Participants will present their business idea at the Concert.
As the Pilot is inside the prison it will not “test” the last three elements of the Restart Programme,
“Three Forms of Support on Release”:
A: Financial: Men that have been on the Programme, who go on to be released and wish to become self-employed, will be eligible for a small start-up Grant – which we hope to make from the fund we are looking to raise. Grants will be lodged with The Real Business Club to avoid abuse.
B: Practical: The Real Business Club will help men open bank accounts, get insurance, understand basic accounting and help with tax.
C: Mentoring: A mix of Real Business Club, Peer Mentors and Entrepreneurs.
WHY RESTART? WHY PRIVATE FUNDING? WHY NOW?
The Prison Population has doubled in 20 years. Government funding has fallen by 25%. Only 12% of employers knowingly employ ex-offenders. Employment/ Purpose is KEY to not falling back into crime and returning to prison. Depending on the demographic, 45%- 60% of prisoners reoffend. Enterprise Courses running in Germany and the USA achieve reoffending rates of 1-11%. Most prisoners want to work. Many prisoners are naturally entrepreneurial. All prisoners have barriers to employment, many of which are insurmountable. Self-employment is the self-evident answer to a lot of these problems.
However, many prisoners are serving long sentences. Our programme is also designed to give men who will NOT be released shortly (where the Government directs most of its money) purpose and hope; a reason to take up other opportunities in prison; a sense of belonging to a supportive, positive community (Choir) and a weekly dose of mood boosting/ stress busting music.
LONG-TERM GOAL: Our long-term goal is to significantly reduce reoffending among the Groups we work with.
SHORT-TERM GOAL: to raise a Fund which will enable us to run all the elements of the Restart Programme in the 5 prisons we work in on continual basis and expand into 3 more prisons. We aim to work with around 2000 men over that period over a 5 year period.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO RUN THE PILOT?
£8,000
Choir costs £300 per week: £3000.
One Enterprise Course + Materials costs: £3000.
Evaluation, recruitment of men and organisation: £2000
We already have a pledge of £2000 from a Choirs Beating Time Founder and are looking to raise £6000 from supporters of our four charities.
Heather Phillips: Choirs Beating Time
Phil Ashford: Enterprise Exchange
Benna McCartney: Enterprise Exchange
Isabel King: The Real Business Club
Fran Findlater: Bounce Back
