Opportunities

We’ve found that the most socially excluded people within society are often barred from that chance to move out of their situation, despite the will to do so.

As part of our mission of empowering people, we recognise that for many, simply being given the chance to prove themselves enables individuals to look forward with hope.

As such we are committed to offering opportunities for our trainees to progress. This varies across our hubs and includes placements in our community cafe, t-shirt printing, craft fairs and our working kitchen. This, coupled with CV updating and advice, means that we are able to support our trainees as they seek to move forward.

Testimonials

I have referred a number of offenders to Handcrafted. The offenders can attend the project several times per week if they wish to, if not daily. This means that they have some where to go and something constructive to do with their time. They can learn new skills or continue to develop skills they already have. They are given the opportunity to try projects they would probably never have considered themselves able to do.

They all take great pride in the items they produce and some have expressed interest in forming their own small businesses on the back of the skills they have learned.

Most of my offenders have then begun to work on their own projects outside of Handcrafted, for example, one produced a bench for a new nature reserve. The offender stated that he feels he has left a legacy for other people to benefit from. Again, this gives them something constructive to do with their time, gives them a sense of pride and self worth. All of this is extremely positive for the offender and helps to deter from further offending.

Lesley G, Durham Constabulary