Project aim  
To increase participants’ ability to become self-employed, to increase confidence and self-esteem, and to provide networking opportunities for participants to meet likeminded people. Improve participants' quality of life, create positive role models and make them less likely to re-offend. 

Those who decided to take part in the intervention were expected to attend six supervision sessions with their probation officer and three group sessions with Enterprise Exchange. 

Barriers faced 

• Offering the self-employment training immediately after release meant it was competing with other matters around housing and family. 
• Whilst designed to be non-academic, the project still required basic levels of education especially around English and Maths. More could be done to provide additional support for participants prior to the workshops.  

Solutions 

• Participants commented on the ability of the Enterprise Exchange workshop facilitator to break down practical information in an effective way and be realistic about the chances of success.  
• Focusing the training primarily on practical knowledge as well as providing support materials for participants helped to directly address and overcome this key barrier to self-employment.  
• Many ex-offenders did not feel comfortable attending large group sessions or group sessions at all. By keeping the groups small, Enterprise Exchange was able to engage with all participants on a one to one basis.  
• Regular follow-ups and support offered to participants post workshop completion was identified as a key enabler by participants and wider stakeholders alike. 

Impact of the project 
A positive indication that the project has contributed towards an increased ability to manage money and an increased ability to start a business/become self-employed. As of early June 2020, all participants remained engaged with the project and had not yet re-offended, strongly suggesting a positive change in attitude.  

Participants did mention repeated positive reinforcements from the workshop facilitator, suggesting that this might be the case. By running group sessions for individuals who were thinking about self-employment, Enterprise Exchange successfully provided networking opportunities and the opportunity for participants to build relationships with likeminded people.  

One participant mentioned staying in touch with another person and although their relationship is currently more social rather than business focused, this suggests that those who wanted to take up networking opportunities were able to do so. Sustainability, replicability and scalability is the future goal. The extent to which the Probation project can continue is dependent on future funding opportunities. 

“He [the workshop facilitator] thought I was very knowledgeable and complimented my understanding of things. He commended me quite a lot actually. He would always encourage me. He was a brilliant teacher.” Testimonial from participant. 

To conclude 
This is one of our projects, but we also love to support women over 50, those with additional barriers and soon we will have an online self-employment courses aimed at everyone who is interested in starting a business. 
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Transferable Skills, With Love, A Stay-at-Home Mum

We have all been there, the stay at home mum identity crisis. The sudden realisation of the big fat hole in my resume dawned on me. I cared about how I would appear to future potential employers. Now five years on, I can tell you I am not worried in the slightest. Although no awards, promotions or accomplishments will be mentioned on my resume, I am sure of one thing, I am way more confident than I thought.

I am incredibly well-versed in Child Development, meeting goals that include bedtime routines and the ability to work towards tight deadlines, such as the 20-second dash for the potty. I can work well under pressure (running the home in the day and multiple feeds at night). Communication skills include baby sign, lecturing and the reading of body language. A worried mother can research better than MI5, so that surely counts towards research and analytical skills?

Additionally, I can prioritise better, managing multiple tasks at once, for example, feeding, cooking and surfing the internet simultaneously. Let's not forget organisational skills, meals planning, routine setting and sorting out the dreaded Lego. A few final skills I believe I achieved from being a stay at home mum are problem-solving. For example, why isn't she sleeping, why won't she sleep, how can I stop her crying, and how can I eat some sweets without being seen? Lastly, I can divide tasks, share chores and gain cooperation from my pint-sized dictator.

Whilst you may have been out of work for a while and lacking in confidence, just remember you have likely gained skills during your time at home, you never thought you had.

​With love, A stay at home mum xx