Novus Winning With Young Offenders

Novus is gearing up to double the number of hours young offenders spend in class and in training workshops, in line with the Government’s Transforming Youth Custody policy.  By diverting people away from the criminal justice system and into employment, Novus is helping to reduce the £11 billion annual cost of offending.

Novus works hard to improve the job prospects of young offenders by focusing on functional skills such as English, Maths and computing, alongside practical trade skills like building, painting and decorating or hospitality and catering.

The young offenders at HMYOI Wetherby will be able to apply their new skills at a coffee shop which is being set up by Novus and the Prison Service. Young offenders on hospitality courses will be able to work either behind the scenes or front of house to serve prison staff and visitors.

Novus has been awarded new education contracts for three Young Offender Institutions: HMYOI Cookham Wood, HMYOI Werrington and HMYOI Wetherby.

Peter Cox, Managing Director of Novus, said: “We are delighted to be delivering high quality education and skills programmes to more young people, giving them a second chance and helping to reduce re-offending rates."