LandWorks & Society

This week the trainees at LandWorks write an open letter to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Justice, urging him to come and see how LandWorks supports his ideas about rehabilitation.

The mobile is indicating a problem: it’s just gone 5am and the number of missed calls and texts suggests a night crisis has happened. Cue Chris Parsons (aka DIY Bob) to the rescue!

On a rare hot day in April, new trainee Luke arrived at LandWorks following his very first stint in prison at twenty years old. Four months into his placement, Sarah asked Luke about his experiences so far.

LandWorks began in July 2013, with an overgrown quarry site and a huge amount of hope. New volunteer Gill looks back and summarises the first two years.

Two years ago, LandWorks had a derelict porta cabin, three serving prisoners, a man released on licence, a bit of overgrown wasteland, and a plan: to help these guys back into the community and employment.

A trip to see a soon-to-be LandWorks trainee affords Chris a rare glimpse of the euphoria and heartbreak of prison visiting hours.

A LandWorks trainee has developed a deep attachment to a stray dog. There are two problems: the trainee is homeless, and the dog looks oddly familiar…

Chris tackles a difficult, often asked question: are LandWorks trainees as worthy of help as those who have not committed a crime but are nevertheless struggling?

‘Election Fever’ is here, and you may have caught a few of the policy-speak words flying around, like ‘resettlement’, ‘reintegration’ and ‘rehabilitation’. Are words like this really useful?

A bittersweet evening at LandWorks, as a stunningly successful fundraiser is tempered by some heartbreaking news.

‘Transforming Rehabilitation’ continues to roll out, and so far it seems to be a case of ‘making omelettes and cracking eggs’…

You may have managed to avoid trouble inside; to get clean from drugs or have sorted yourself out. But what happens if you’ve nowhere to go afterwards?