Helping ex-offenders into employment

At The Recruitment Junction, we are all about creating second chances. 

As well as our target of helping 100 ex-offenders into work in 2021, we also want to ‘put our money where our mouth is’ and to offer jobs for people with convictions to come and work within The Recruitment Junction itself. 

Please support us in finding the last piece of funding we need, to hire 4 ex-offenders to work at The Recruitment Junction over the next 12 months – and which will also have the knock-on effect of enabling up to 20 more candidates to enter employment with our customers in 2021.

Set up in October 2020 in the middle of the pandemic, we are a not-for-profit enterprise with a social heart, on a commercial mission. Our vision is to see people with convictions re-discover a sense of purpose through work and become role models who drive positive generational impact across their families, whilst seeing local employers' skills shortages met through our resourceful, resilient workers. Through working intensively with motivated candidates with convictions in their past, we connect them with local and national employers to provide purpose for their future.

92% of employers say inclusive recruitment has enhanced their reputation. Over 80% of companies who hire ex-offenders positively rate their reliability, motivation, attendance and performance.

Reoffending rates within one year of release from jail are above 60%. In contrast, finding employment is the main factor in reducing reoffending. But, more than that, it provides purpose, financial independence and tangible hope to the men and women we work with. The impact is felt in the individual and their wider family, supporting people out of poverty and unhealthy cycles and into purposeful work with a positive future ahead.

Jimmy's Story

Jimmy grew up in a notorious family in Newcastle's west end, and in his 20s was convicted of murder. He served a full life sentence, but on release was able to secure legitimate employment and move away from his past.

This fell apart in his 50s, following the death of a close family member, and when Jimmy first met the founder of The Recruitment Junction 5 years ago, he had attended over 70 job interviews without a single offer of employment - convinced that the negative legacy of his family name and his unspent conviction would haunt him forever.

Jimmy was encouraged to start volunteering and to re-visit his interview technique with help and guidance, and within 6 months he was in paid employment as a Caretaker-Handyman, still employed at the same organisation four years later. Jimmy takes every opportunity he can to encourage people with convictions that there is always the chance to move on from their past, if they don't give up and instead grab hold of the help that is offered to them.

Jimmy is one of many candidates who has done everything he can to make positive changes in his life and Jimmy is only the first-fruits of our work in the region.

Our support for candidates includes:

• Work-ready assessments and individual employment action plans;
• Referrals and signposting to other specialist services;
• Individual coaching and mentoring;
• Supporting our candidates to prepare a CV that we can take to employers;
• Mock interview and disclosure practice;
• Providing the technology needed for candidates to apply for jobs and engage with us online;
• Working with employers to generate awareness of our candidates
• 6 months in-work mentoring, including weekly contact, to ensure they are supported to navigate the workplace.

We have supported 8 candidates into employment in January alone, and we aim to help the same every month for 2021 and beyond - please partner with us to see this happen!