New hopes are now in the works, with the support backing from the Government to help aid those in Prison from reoffending again.
THE CLINK KITCHEN SCHEME TO HELP THOUSANDS ACROSS THE UK
The Crime Cutting Scheme comes in the hope to cut crimes once Prisoners leave their Prisons.
By the end of 2021, as many as twenty-five prisons will be working in partnership with The Clink Kitchens Integrated Training Programme.
This has been developed from The Clink Restaurants and The Clink Gardens training programmes.
One Prison in Bicester has said it will help to make streets safer. And over the past 25 years it has helped thousands of offenders to be steered away from a life of crime it is all thanks to the roll-out of The Clink training kitchen scheme.
The scheme is already running at eight prisons including HMP Bristol, and HMP Downview.
HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING
The Clink has already helped over 2,500 offenders into stable and secure jobs since launching just over ten years ago. The programme over sees prisoners train in professionally-run prison kitchens for up to 35 hours a week
In 2019 alone, The Clink trained up over 440 prisoners – a total of 330,000 training hours – with over 280 employers across the country taking on Clink graduates upon release from prison.
Working with the prisoners to prep and cook thousands of meals daily, this plan is working towards professional qualifications which will help Prisoners find employment on the outside after their sentences.
IN 2019 – THE CLINK TRAINED OVER 440 PRISONERS – 330,000 TRAINING HOURS IN TOTAL
Prisons Minister Alex Chalk MP said “Hope is such a precious commodity in a prison, they wanted to be a role-model to their children. Those who are selected because they’ve got the commitment and they’ve got the right mindset will have this opportunity.”
“The course is rigorous, it will take over 400 hours, but critically it will give those qualifications that will enable that individual, when they leave custody, to have a much better chance of getting into employment.
“We know that those who get a job are 32% less likely to reoffend, so this is vital for them, and it’s also good for the community as well.”
REOFENDING COSTS OVER £18 BILLION A YEAR
The plans for The Clink Kitchen programme are working to reduce the £18 billion a year cost of reoffending and keeping communities safe.
The 19 prisons hoping to enrol in the programme by the end of the summer include:
HMP Bristol
HMP Brixton
HMP Bronzefield
HMP Bullingdon
HMP Channings Wood
HMP Dartmoor
HMP Downview
Eastwood Park
HMP Erlestoke
HMP Exeter
HMP Forest Bank
HMP Guys Marsh
HMP High Down
HMP Highpoint
HMP Hollesley Bay
HMP Leeds
HMP Lewes
HMP Liverpool
HMP Low Newton
HMP Moorland
HMP New Hall
HMP Northumberland
HMP Peterborough
HMP Preston
HMP Styal
HMP Wealstun.
The charity’s chief executive, Christopher Moore, said: “The roll-out of The Clink Kitchens project over the next three years to 70 prisons in England and Wales, will enable us to continue to repair society and support the hospitality industry that has a major skills shortage.
“Social mobility is at the heart of many companies’ recruitment agenda and employing a highly trained Clink graduate not only is a benefit to their business but increases the diversity of their workforce.”
