Gemma Holford from The Clink Charity speaks on the charities work.

The Clink Charity breaks the cycle of crime by changing attitudes both inside and outside of the prison, creating second chances and transforming lives whilst reducing reoffending rates for the benefit of society as a whole. This is accomplished by prisoners volunteering to be trained to gain an NVQ in hospitality and also be supported on release through The Clink’s mentoring programme.

New data analysis released in April 2018 from a report conducted by the Justice Data Lab (JDL) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) provides evidence that prisoners participating in our hospitality training scheme, in partnership with HMPPS, reduces reoffending rates, with the report stating we have achieved a “statistically significant result”.

The report looked at people with convictions who trained for between six and 18 months at any of our four restaurants in Surrey, Brixton, Cardiff and Styal at some time between 2010 and 2015. In order to show a fair assessment, the Clink graduates that qualified for analysis were measured comparatively to individuals that have not received our intervention, but were similar in circumstance.

The data shows that in 2014/15 Clink graduates had a 10.7% reoffending rate compared to the control groups 20.9%. This is a 10 percentage point difference or a 49.6% reduction in reoffending, compared to the previous statistic in November 2015 of 41%. The new combined results of The Clink, from our launch in 2009 to 2015, reveal graduates had a 16% reoffending rate compared to the comparison group’s 25%. This is a 36% improvement overall.

We are delighted that these new results have shown a reduction in reoffending against comparative groups.  The JDL identifying that “prisoners who took part in the programme were less likely to reoffend than those who did not” is testament to our dedicated work in partnership with HMPPS.  We offer more than just training; we provide a five-step integrated programme for our trainees that consists of not only the recruitment and training while they are in prison but also support, employment and mentoring upon release.  All five elements are key to the reduction in reoffending; it provides the graduates with the assistance they need to readjust back into society.

In 2018, the charity goes from strength to strength with the launch of two new ventures.  The Clink Café in Manchester will be focusing on training prisoners on release on temporary license from three local prisons, Clink graduates and homeless clients of the Centrepoint charity to gain their accredited City and Guilds NVQ level 2 in Food and Beverage Service as well as barista skills.  Also opening is the new central production kitchen at HMP Downview women’s prison in Surrey which will produce food inside for Clink Events to serve on the outside. The charity’s outside catering service will also work in conjuction with the Centrepoint charity and Clink graduates.

For more information visit https://theclinkcharity.org/