Measuring the social value of social enterprise activity in prisons Social Enterprise in Prisons – here at last?

Research Aim The research will capture the social value of the social enterprise strategy developed within six public sector prisons in North East UK during the The use of social enterprise within a custodial setting provides multiple benefits to offenders through skills development and education…....The research purpose is to provide a strong evidence base of the social benefit and impact of the intervention of social enterprise within public prisons and for that evidence to inform national policy whilst demonstrating the NE as a leader in the field.

Stakeholder Map

What’s the evidence? Criminal Justice Policy & Practice Social Enterprise

What’s the evidence? Governance & Regime Management Social Enterprise

What’s the evidence? Social Enterprise Social Enterprise Policy & Practice

What’s the evidence? Social Enterprise Offender Journey & Public Benefit

Horticulture Projects  Greener on the Outside for Prisons a pan-regional programme to improve the health and wellbeing of offenders, their families, staff, and local communities within the North West The aim of the programme is to: – Reduce inequalities and achieve sustainable improvements in health, wellbeing and learning outcomes for offenders and their families, with a particular focus on mental health, physical activity and healthier eating.  Master Gardener Programme – Rye Hill Prison Therapeutic effects – intellectual stimulation – improved communication with staff and other offenders – self esteem – learning opportunities  Green Shoots Associates Exotic mushrooms grown in prison

Social Audit Study at HMP Kirklevington Grange Context  Kirklevington Grange (KG) is an open prison for adult male offenders (capacity offenders)  The social enterprise activities at KG were born out of a market study commissioned from Tees-side University in 2013  The café opened in September 2013 alongside a car valeting service. Over time sales of other products have been added  The gross sales of the social enterprise in the year ending March 2015 were almost £200k.  30 prisoners employed directly; approx. another 15 indirectly. Wages in the social enterprise are best in the prison Pathways to Employment One offender working in the valet service so impressed a local employer that he was given a job trial on release. He had never before been in paid work. Other valet staff have been offered trial placements with a local employer.

Social Audit Study at HMP Kirklevington Grange Impact on Culture and Relationships within the Prison After a cautious start attitudes have changed for a variety of reasons:- both staff and prisoners have come to understand purpose of social enterprise the social enterprise sits well alongside KG’s existing commitment to community engagement and community payback the social enterprise has been warmly received by the local community, boosting the confidence and self-esteem of offenders as they experience their being work valued and appreciated by members of the public The internal coffee shop (approx. 2/3rds of whose sales are to prisoners) has exceeded its expected sales targets in its first year. There is an atmosphere of purposeful activity around the Visitor Centre, and the fact that the Centre makes possible sales of other goods (metalwork, joinery, cards) including from more secure prisons is a further demonstration of its worth. Skills The staff working in the external coffee shop have become so professional and proficient that when it was decided to open a coffee shop at HMP Durham it was prisoners from KG who were seconded to Durham to train the prison officers there.

Social Audit Study at HMP Kirklevington Grange Impact upon the Local Community  The social enterprise serves a broad customer base: prison staff visitors to the prison making business, family or personal visits local residents and local business people local groups who use the centre as a meeting place – NEPACS, the WI, a widows groups, cyclists and bikers residents and cares from a local care home who are able to reach the coffee shop after a short walk  The café floor space has doubled in size with the addition of a meeting room  There has been favourable coverage in the local newspaper and on regional tv Community Community payback activities with the Forestry Commission allow it to collect logs which it then sells through the Visitor Centre for firewood. The coffee shop has supported donations to charities including Help for Heroes and Zoe’s place. The welding workshop made a special candle stand which was placed at the war memorial in Yarm to mark the centenary of the Great War.

Drivers for Success

The Scorecard  Based upon interviews with prison staff across the North East  A ‘traffic light’ system designed the test the completeness and resilience of social enterprise project proposals under four headings – Resources, Regime, Readiness and Social Return North East Prisons Cluster

Starting with an Impact Map

John Sargent Social Enterprise in Prisons – here at last?