Bristol café to be staffed by ex-offenders given go ahead

The cafe will help prison leavers find employment and reintegrate back into society

A café that plans to employ ex-offenders has been granted planning permission.

The Key Café will open in a disused Ministry of Justice building in front of HMP Bristol on Gloucester Road in Bristol.

Suzanne Thompson, CEO of The Restore Trust said: "It is amazing we've exceeded our fundraising goal and we're hoping to open next spring.

"The café will help rehabilitate prison leavers back into society."

The Restore Trust, a social enterprise which helps prison leavers, is working with The Key: Unlock Potential charity to open the site.

Suzanne Thompson wants the café to break down stigma around prison leavers

Ms Thompson added: "Our whole purpose is to help people transition to full-time employment once they've been released from prison.

"We know that it is a pathway out of poverty for many and really helps cut down the rate of re-offending too.

"We're aiming to break the stigma around prison leavers, break down those barriers and help individuals."

A fundraising campaign launched last year has raised more than the £150,000 target.

Bristol charity leader, Alex Ardalan-Raikes, will be a board member and says she is passionate about the idea because her father had been in prison.

She added it will "enable people to get their lives back" and to "participate fully in society".

Ms Ardalan-Raikes, director of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI), said: "On a personal note, having had a father who went through the prison system, I know how much this sort of project would have helped him."

The money raised will also be used to fund a project to rejuvenate the food inside HMP Bristol, which will be led by Simon and Tom Green.

The Bristol entrepreneurs will work with the board of trustees and HMP Bristol to deliver the menu in the café and the prison project.

Ms Thompson added: "It doesn't mean that anyone who works in the café would have to stay within the hospitality sector, it's more designed that they have got used to full-time employment. "