Make a difference to prison employment

Prison Employment Leads (PELs) are the key points of contact for employment in prison. They work to ensure that prisoners can take up work and training opportunities. They are responsible for driving the employment strategy for the prison, working with employers and prisoners to match people to suitable jobs. Through their work, PELs help more prisoners leave custody with a job which is a key factor in reducing reoffending.

Your role as a mentor will be to support a PEL to work effectively with their network of employers. You’ll help them to gain a greater understanding of the current world of work.

In collaboration with New Futures Network, we’re looking for people working in HR who have experience working with prisons or the criminal justice system. You’ll have experience in mentoring or coaching and a good understanding of the current employment landscape including recruitment. Not sure if you’d be a good fit? Get in touch and find out.

By volunteering, you can contribute to positively impacting individuals’ chances of securing employment, ultimately helping to reduce reoffending. As a people professional passionate about changing lives and shaping inclusive workplaces, this is a unique opportunity to make a difference.

Register your interest below and we’ll set up an initial call to talk more about the opportunity. We will then connect you with the New Futures Network who will arrange the mentoring.

About the New Futures Network

The New Futures Network brokers partnerships between prisons and employers. These partnerships help employers fill skills gaps and provide work for serving prisoners and prison leavers.

New Futures Network brokers three types of partnership:

1. Prison industries: when businesses set up commercial workspaces in prisons, staffed by serving prisoners. These range from construction to carpentry, coding to call centres and more.

2. Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL): when risk-assessed prisoners leave prison each day to work for employers in the community. This can be for a full working week, over an extended period.

3. Employment on release: when employers offer opportunities to prison leavers. This can be after seeing a prisoner work in a prison workshop, or in a workplace on ROTL.