Successful rehabilitation through collaboration at HMP Kirkham

A former learner from HMP Kirkham successfully found employment upon release, housing and financial help thanks to the support he received from Novus and the collaborative working between Novus, CAS2 housing, Only a Pavement Away and Greene King.  

The importance of finding employment upon release

Finding employment upon release is integral to a learner’s successful rehabilitation. Studies show that prison leavers who find a job after release are less likely to reoffend, highlighting the importance of employment to help learners thrive upon release.

At Novus, we offer employment support in a variety of ways including working in partnership with various charities and organisations to provide learners with the skills, knowledge, qualifications and connections needed to find employment upon release. 
 

Working collaboratively to support the successful rehabilitation of learners 

At the start of July, the former learner from HMP Kirkham was released and relocated to CAS2 housing in Carlisle. Originally from Manchester, he hoped he could find work thanks to the employment support from Novus and the site employer account manager, Denise.

The learner had previously shown strong interest in working for Greene King, having participated in several of their engagement events held within the prison. Understanding his ambitions, Denise reached out to Greene King pubs in the Carlisle area to find potential job openings. Denise also registered the learner with Only a Pavement Away (OAPA), a hospitality charity that support prison leavers wanting to work in the hospitality industry who have a good selection of employers registered with them. 

Within days, an interview was secured at a Greene King pub in Carlisle, which the learner attended, impressing the team and was offered a position shortly thereafter. With his right-to-work documents in place, he was onboarded, successfully completed a work trial, and signed his employment contract on the 17th of July. 

Denise also reached out to OAPA to help the learner financially. Together, they completed a form to apply for a £250 grant, which was successful. The funds will help him purchase a bike for commuting to work, cover additional mobile data to access work-related apps, and provide food vouchers until he receives his first wage. 

This successful learner outcome showcases the power of partnerships. Through the combined efforts of Novus, Greene King, OAPA and local housing support services, the learner is now equipped with stable employment, essential resources, and a renewed sense of independence and purpose. It reinforces the importance of integrated rehabilitation strategies, and how tailored support can be the key to successful rehabilitation. 

To learn more about how we prepare learners for life upon release, take a look at our news section.