Measuring the social value of social enterprise activity in
prisons
Social Enterprise in Prisons – here at last?
Research Aim
The research will capture the social value of the social enterprise strategy developed within six public sector prisons in North East UK during the 2012-14. The use of social enterprise within a custodial setting provides multiple benefits to offenders through skills development and education…....The research purpose is to provide a strong evidence base of the social benefit and impact of the intervention of social enterprise within public prisons and for that evidence to inform national policy whilst demonstrating the NE as a leader in the field.
NOMS Governor Enterpri
se Manage
rLearnin
g & Skills
Offenders
Education
Providers
Potemtial
Employers
Customers – Retail & Trade
Local VCSE
Business Support
LEP , Local
Authority, etc
Social Enterprise Bodies
M O J
Academia
Penal Refor
m
One Three One
Criminal Justice
Policy & Practice
Social Enterprise Policy & Practice
Offender Journey &
Public Benefit
Governance &
Regime Mgmt
Stakeholder Map
Social Enterprise
Criminal Justice Policy
& Practice
What’s the evidence?
Social Enterprise
Governance & Regime
Management
What’s the evidence?
Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise Policy & Practice
Social Enterprise
What’s the evidence?
Offender Journey & Public Benefit
Social Enterprise
What’s the evidence?
Horticulture Projects Greener on the Outside for Prisonsa pan-regional programme to improve the health and
wellbeing of offenders, their families, staff, and local communities within the North West
The aim of the programme is to:
Reduce inequalities and achieve sustainable improvements in health, wellbeing and learning outcomes for offenders and their families, with a particular focus on mental health, physical activity and healthier eating.
Master Gardener Programme – Rye Hill Prison Therapeutic effects – intellectual stimulation – improved communication with
staff and other offenders – self esteem – learning opportunities
Green Shoots Associates Exotic mushrooms grown in prison
Social Audit Study at HMP Kirklevington Grange Context
Kirklevington Grange (KG) is an open prison for adult male offenders (capacity - 283 offenders)
The social enterprise activities at KG were born out of a market study commissioned from Tees-side University in 2013
The café opened in September 2013 alongside a car valeting service. Over time sales of other products have been added
The gross sales of the social enterprise in the year ending March 2015 were almost £200k.
30 prisoners employed directly; approx. another 15 indirectly. Wages in the social enterprise are best in the prison
Pathways to Employment
One offender working in the valet service so impressed a local employer that he was given a job trial on release. He had never before been in paid work. Other valet staff have been offered trial placements with a local employer .
Impact on Culture and Relationships within the PrisonAfter a cautious start attitudes have changed for a variety of reasons:-both staff and prisoners have come to understand purpose of social enterprisethe social enterprise sits well alongside KG’s existing commitment to community engagement and community payback the social enterprise has been warmly received by the local community, boosting the confidence and self-esteem of offenders as they experience their being work valued and appreciated by members of the public
The internal coffee shop (approx. 2/3rds of whose sales are to prisoners) has exceeded its expected sales targets in its first year.
There is an atmosphere of purposeful activity around the Visitor Centre, and the fact that the Centre makes possible sales of other goods (metalwork, joinery, cards) including from more secure prisons is a further demonstration of its worth.
Social Audit Study at HMP Kirklevington Grange
Skills
The staff working in the external coffee shop have become so professional and proficient that when it was decided to open a coffee shop at HMP Durham it was prisoners from KG who were seconded to Durham to train the prison officers there.
Social Audit Study at HMP Kirklevington Grange
Impact upon the Local Community
The social enterprise serves a broad customer base:prison staffvisitors to the prison making business, family or personal visitslocal residents and local business people local groups who use the centre as a meeting place – NEPACS, the WI, a widows groups, cyclists and bikersresidents and cares from a local care home who are able to reach the coffee shop after a short walk The café floor space has doubled in size with the addition of a meeting roomThere has been favourable coverage in the local newspaper and on regional tv
Community
Community payback activities with the Forestry Commission allow it to collect logs which it then sells through the Visitor Centre for firewood.The coffee shop has supported donations to charities including Help for Heroes and Zoe’s place. The welding workshop made a special candle stand which was placed at the war memorial in Yarm to mark the centenary of the Great War.
Criminal Justice
Policy & Practice
Social Enterprise Policy & Practice
Offender Journey &
Public Benefit
Governance &
Regime Mgmt
Drivers for Success
Social Enterprise
positive culture change supporting reducing reoffending
intermediate labour market and through the gate solutions
fostering business partnerships
customer focused business model
community payback
re-investing in learning & skills
‘through the gate’ – Transforming Rehabilitation
access to external finance & expertise
social integration through diverse workforce
supporting ethos of working prisons
North East Prisons Cluster
The ScorecardBased upon interviews with prison staff across the North EastA ‘traffic light’ system designed the test the completeness and
resilience of social enterprise project proposals under four headings – Resources, Regime, Readiness and Social Return
Starting with an Impact Map
John Sargent E:[email protected]
Social Enterprise in Prisons – here at last?