NEW OPPORTUNITY

For our latest NewGround Academy, we hit the road and headed up to HMP Leicester. This one was a bit different for us. It’s a category B prison, meaning it’s a higher security setting than we’ve previously taught in, and it’s a local city centre prison housing a lot of men who are on remand and awaiting a court date or who have been recalled to prison.

The stakes felt a little higher, but we were so excited to see the impact our course could have on them, and the difference that we could make as people who believe in them and their power to live positive lives.

HOPE IN ADVERSITY

This course was a real reminder for us of why we do what we do.

NewGround Foundation exists to provide the issue to never reoffend, because for so many who end up in the criminal justice system, this becomes a vicious cycle of lack of opportunity and resorting to crime.

All of the guys we trained were repeat offenders and had done time inside before. Some had been going in and out of prison for decades. At face value, the outlook was bleak.

But what we saw in that room was something completely different. We worked with a bunch of men who were super engaged, really quick learners, and a real pleasure to work with. They got the hang of the key skills really quickly, producing some great milk texture and latte art, and each was polite, attentive, respectful and fun to be around.

Far from being lost causes, this was a group of individuals each with immense potential that needs to be unlocked. And we started to see that; as we encouraged and complemented them on their learning, we saw their faces light up and saw them start to take pride in what they were producing.

What is needed now are employers ready to help provide an opportunity that can bring a sense of purpose and security to help them get on the right track.