Training programme for ex offenders

Just to follow on from my ideas for a training programme with Laces to create jobs for those deemed unemployable (except shit jobs) that have no end in sight to clear depts and have some sort of life....

How Does it work....

1. Laces is run by an ex offender, 25 years into payback and my next presentation is on 02/10 in a school in London and have built a reputation for good and have experience. The point is I've done it so why can't others ?????
2. Prisons are full of inmates who are trained as listeners to help ease tension and the system even allow some prison visits for young people to meet both staff and inmates to give their point of view, the inmates do get paid, but you're in prison and it's a pittance for their time, but the cons enjoy it because it keeps e'm out of their cell most of the day giving them a feeling of self worth and pride, but when the inmates walk to freedom they are filled with dread (if you're released from a prison where a long train journey is called for, by the time you've reached your destination you're filled with as much booze as your discharge grant allows) which helps kill the pain of returning to another dead end................No wonder the re offending rates keep rocketing...........
3. Schools need what Laces offers and Laces offers a chance for truly committed people in prison and discharged to show that by creating their own life stories and with Laces help by working with those who have 'Made an effort' to get on the Laces 'Slippery Slope' programme for the schools curriculum. Laces Prison cell 'Slippery Slope' sessions are impactful and memorable to whole year groups with follow up sessions to hammer home the message 'Crime Dosn't Pay' and who better to deliver that than ex offenders with experience. Males and Females...............Drugs/Alcohol/Guns/Knives/No morals/No guidance/And a hate of all things authoritarian..............
4. People who have lived these lives are the experts and I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel for them. Can you ?
5. Youth Offending Teams / Pupil Referral Units / Secure Units and any other organisation who work with kids deemed unreachable................Their 'Exactly' the young people Laces work best with and so can others who are trained the Laces way, but we need financial support to reduce not increase offending behavior. Laces has saved so many young people through our school involvement and mentoring so who better to understand 'Patience' when it comes to helping them with a better future and hope to achieve their own success. Hard work / patience and knowledge of your subject goes a long way to being where you want to be..............
6. Laces is also a member of The South East London Chamber of Commerce and has been for a number of years and have met some very interesting and supportive people on my journey and have had the pleasure of their company by some members (time allowing) participating in Laces Slippery Slope sessions over the years, including some Chamber presidents, both male and female. This approach allows the students to get 2 perspectives of freedom Vs confinement.....And a better understanding of themselves.,,,
7. We start the session with the chamber member dressed in real prison clothes and sit or lay in the cell for up to an hour with me verbally abusing the kids in my prison mode. This works really well with students shocked to know my cell mate is not an ex offender but a businessman/woman who talk about when they were young and how they got where they are now. I feel very privileged that Laces partnership with the Chamber can lead the way in transforming people lives by asking them to prove what we already know works...........Given an opportunity to show what prison can't do or won't do our combined effort will make a massive impact.........
8. A few words on mentoring and training to work with the young.............When a young person is arrested their attitude alone tells you that's the first step on the Slippery Slope but if an ex-offender is trained to talk to the younger version of themselves and remember when they were in that position by working with police, again the content is Freedom Vs Confinement how well would that work. I know what I'm talking about too. Jason was 15 and referred back to crown court by his local YOT with a recommendation to a 6 month stint in a secure unit................Not a very committed YOT. After I spoke on Jason's behalf the judge felt that the Laces programme would suit Jasons personality so 'Revoked' the Youth Offending Team order and referred Jason to Laces on a 4 month deferred order which Jason completed and made a conscious decision to write to the judge and thanked him for his trust and faith.
9. Update : This was on 11th May 2009 and to date 27th 09 2018..............Jason is working full time and is committed to his future, and he would want me to tell you he had a couple of slip ups but with continued belief in himself and sporadic contact with Laces has 'No Intention' of ever going back to prison.......Jason has done that and Laces has done what others can be trained to do, Stuck with it ! Allowing the door to open to visit young offender institutes to give young inmates a chance to be free to choose.........I should finish by saying I never got funding for Jason and wonder If the YOT were still paid for Jason ? It would have been nice for them to offer Laces the money meant for Jasons rehabilitation....I was so excited at the courts referral I should have mentioned it to the judge ??????????? He may have awarded that funding to Laces ?
10. You can find the court transcript online :
11. Woolwich Crown Court
12. May 2009
13. His Honour Judge Steven Pegden
14. Hill Vs Regina

I hope you found this of interest and would welcome your thoughts or views ?

Charles

LACES