CrossRoads - University of York

Tags: sustainability | community | enactus

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Working with ex-offenders to give them the building blocks to secure long-term empowerment and ultimately employment.

SEEING OPPORTUNITY

In 2013 there were 514,000 adult and juvenile offenders, 136,000 of these re-offended within a year. On a local level, North Yorkshire has a 25% re-offending rate and York in particular a rate of 29%. Government research shows that the re-offending rate of ex- convicts who secure employment within 12 months of leaving prison is less than half that for those who don’t. Importantly however, finding employment is incredibly difficult for this needs group, and is the real source of the problem, 2 years after leaving prison only 15% will be employed, and some 47% will be on some form of benefit.

We were shocked by these statistics, and knew we could start a project looking to work with this needs group and bridge the gap that no one else was willing to, to help these people.

To find out more click here