Year: 2023
Passion
For many people leaving prison, the hardest part of rebuilding their lives is finding someone willing to give them a chance. Despite having the skills and motivation to work, individuals with convictions often face significant barriers when seeking employment.
Creating fair opportunities for employment is one of the most effective ways to reduce reoffending and help people reintegrate into society. When employers are willing to look beyond a past conviction, they can play a vital role in helping individuals rebuild stable and productive lives.
Action
In 2023, the Adderstone Foundation hosted a fundraising and discussion event in collaboration with Recruitment Junction, a charity dedicated to helping people with convictions transition into sustainable paid work.
The event brought together employers from across the North East to explore the realities of employing people with criminal backgrounds. Industry experts, including Lindsay Blackmore and Beverley Brooks, shared their experience of working with ex-offenders and highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges involved in creating more inclusive hiring practices.
By creating space for open discussion between businesses, charities and community leaders, the event encouraged employers to better understand how they can support rehabilitation through employment.
Impact
The event helped raise awareness of the barriers faced by people with convictions while encouraging employers to consider how their organisations might play a role in offering second chances.
By bringing businesses together to engage with the issue directly, the event helped shift attitudes toward fair employment practices and strengthened support for initiatives that connect individuals leaving prison with meaningful work.