Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s ‘Onside’ project, which works with offenders at HMP Leeds and Wealstun, is continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of the people they work with following their release.
The project involves Leeds Rhinos Foundation working with offenders, who generally have less than six months to serve on their sentence, to help prepare them for release. The course covers CV writing and interview skills as well as looking at wider issues such as goal setting, barriers, motivation and respect to help equip the attendees with the skills they will need to find employment.
The commitment to supporting the ‘Onside’ attendees does not end following their release and Leeds Rhinos Foundation is working with their partners to offer them opportunities to make the most of their second chance.
This has led to a former ‘Onside’ attendee, who was recently released from Wealstun, gaining employment with one of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s partners Mears.
Speaking about this achievement Janet Sylvester, Project Tutor at Leeds Rhinos Foundation who runs the Onside project said:
“The response we have had for the Onside project has been fantastic. Following the initial pilot in HMP Leeds, which was funded by the Safer Communities Fund, we were asked to take the project to HMP Wealstun where we have completed two courses.
“The feedback from both prisons has been overwhelmingly positive and they value this project in helping those offenders who are getting ready for release. The attendees on the course have always engaged with what we are doing and say they have taken a lot from it.
“We are delighted that attendees who have completed the course, who have now been released, are finding employment as this is one of the main objectives for us. Tackling the cycle of re-offending is something this course aims to do and gaining employment is a big key to helping that. Mears are great partners of Leeds Rhinos Foundation and I would like to thank them for supporting this project and offering this opportunity.”
Craig Simpson, General Manager added:
“'We are honoured to be involved with the Onside project, working alongside our long-term partners the Leeds Rhinos Foundation.
“This project enables the opportunity for people in our local community to dramatically improve their lives, which is something us at Mears are truly proud of.”
For more information on the Onside project contact janet.sylvester@leedsrhinosfoundation.org