LandWorks welcomed over 100 supporters, volunteers and partners to its Annual Supporters’ Day on August 19th to celebrate another remarkable year of achievement.
Totnes and South Devon MP, Anthony Mangnall, who has highlighted the important work of the charity in Parliament, was among those who took the opportunity to explore the latest enhancements to the LandWorks site and to watch the premiere of the powerful new film, ‘One Day’, produced by LandWorks supporters Jennie and Graeme Montgomery, which highlights the approach of the charity in reducing offending and transforming lives.
LandWorks provides a supported route back into employment and the community for people in prison or at risk of going to prison, working closely with local probation services and HMP Channings Wood. The one-year reoffending rate for LandWorks is just 5%, compared to a national reoffending rate within one year of release from prison of over 40%, and over 95% of former LandWorks trainees who are available to work are currently in at least part-time employment.
Reflecting on LandWorks’ success in his supporters’ day address, Project Director Chris Parsons said: “We are very good at acting in the immediacy of somebody’s crisis, at getting support in place, when it matters, before the crisis has escalated. Not only does our offending rate remain low at around 5%, but increasingly we are building evidence that a community sentence placement here does remove the prospect of a custodial sentence.”
Illustrating the point, LandWorks graduate Darryl went on to speak movingly about how the charity has turned his life around after a long ‘career’ in crime. “LandWorks commitment to me has been unbelievable, they have been there every step of the way, supporting and encouraging me” he said. “I now have a job with NHS Reconnect, working within the criminal justice system to help people with mental health problems who are coming out of prison, so it is really nice to give something back.”
Daz, a current trainee, is drawing to the end of his time at LandWorks. Talking about his experiences of the project he said: “As well as teaching me knew practical skills, LandWorks has supported me to develop my confidence and self-esteem. I feel my social skills have improved and I now feel like a part of the community. I am proud of myself and feel ready for my future. I have a meeting for a potential job in a couple of weeks, a job that I will be good at, and take pleasure in doing. I am enjoying life now and LandWorks will always be a big part of that for me.”
August 2022