Creativity, the connected economy and offenders

Robert Morrall Director Pictora Former member of MOJ reducing reoffending 3rd sector advisory Board A Founding member of the RSA Transitions Prison project Currently train around 300 disadvantaged learners a year (150 in prison) Mentor prisoners through the gate Associate university lecturer in Innovation and entrepreneurship

Birth of project idea in the context of UK prison system England and Wales have the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe, locking up 147 people per 100,000 of the population Around 89,332 individuals at anyone time are in a UK prison 56% of people entering prison are on remand awaiting were accused of non-violent offences - nearly 21,000 people. The cycle of reoffending costs up to £13 billion a year.

Private prisons The UK has the most privatised prison system in Europe. In England and Wales there were 15,992 people (19% of the prisoner population) held in private prisons as at 28 October 2016.

Reoffending Reoffending by all recent ex-prisoners costs the economy between £13 billion annually Prison has a poor record for reducing reoffending - 46% of adults are reconvicted within one year of release. For those serving sentences of less than 12 months this increases to 60% 48% of women are reconvicted within one year of leaving prison. This rises to 61% for sentences of less than 12 months and to 78% for women who have served more than 11 previous custodial sentences People are less likely to reoffend if they have a qualification—45% were reconvicted within a year compared with 60% with no qualifications

Resettlement More than half of people released from prison were claiming out-of-work benefits one month after release - two- fifths were still claiming benefits after two years Almost three-quarters of prisoners surveyed said finance, benefits and debt were a very significant need on release

A social enterprise prison RSA Transitions: could a prison be run as a social enterprise how should we design 21st century prisons to ensure lasting social reintegration for ex-offenders

Is there a better way to reduce reoffending …

Importance of creativity Creativity is essential today, not just to our cultural and artistic lives, but also as part of the search for solutions to the world’s many unresolved socio-political, economic and environmental problems. ‘Everyday’ creativity is to some extent a life skill, and something that everyone practices to varying degrees. Creativity is central to an individual well-being and development. Creativity isn’t a switch that can be flicked on or off, it’s a way of seeing, engaging and responding with the wider world.

Creativity and the connected economy We live in an increasing complex world which involves a complex sharing of information, expectation and culture To succeed individuals need to be able to open up to others, which creates vulnerable moments that can be frightening! Connections build social capital. Networks created by connection give the individual greater leverage for their talents and passions Creativity through the connected economy help an offender build their social capital and reduce the likelihood of reoffending

Human creativity is endless, but for offenders often the word “No” dominates!

A partnership for change Latvia: Resocializacijas un Integracijas Asociacija Lithuania: Panevezio Pataisos Namai Portugal: Associação Humanidades UK: Pictora Ltd. www.create4life.net