Partnership helps ex-prisoners back to work

Operations manager Rita Wilkinson said Yellow Ribbon helped prisoners who otherwise would "fail at the first hurdle"

Ex-prisoners are being helped to reintegrate into the world of work in a scheme run by Telford College and a local chaplaincy.

The Yellow Ribbon Community Chaplaincy in Telford works to support former prisoners with basic needs and education when they are released.

Dave, 48, who has spent 33 years in and out of prison, said it was "invaluable".

He said he had done a mindset course, adding that it was something he should have done while he was in jail: "There are a lot more things we should be doing in there before we get out."

Rita Wilkinson, operations manager at Yellow Ribbon, said one man was released last week with just £7. She said released prisoners would normally get £50 but some leave with less.

"Without somewhere to go they would be destined to fail at the first hurdle," she said.

"We take care of all the immediate needs – their food needs, their housing needs, and we get them set up with benefits."

She said the ex-prisoners then went on to the next stage, which is employment or college, with local Telford College now working with the charity to deliver courses.

Steve Neville (left) is a Telford College lecturer working with people - like James, who now volunteers at Yellow Ribbon himself - coming out of prison

Steve Neville, a lecturer in counselling at the college, said one of the courses looked at "the very basic understanding of mental health".

He said: "First of all, people are able to talk about their own mental health histories, which has been very useful for them in beginning to understand their experiences.

"What we're also seeing is that people understand more about other people out there with mental health issues."

Former inmate James now volunteers for the chaplaincy.

Coming out of prison was very daunting, he said, adding: "You've been locked up for so long. You come out here, it really does affect your mental health."

James said "coming out into the big wide world is horrible and I think everybody struggles with it", but he said he had "managed to get my head round it now", which was why he was volunteering to help others in the same position.