Charity seeks £1m government funding to get jobs for ex-offenders

The charity says it costs £3,500 to get an ex-offender into work

A charity that helps former prisoners find a job is asking the government for a £1m funding boost which it says could get 1,100 ex-inmates into work.

Tempus Novo said the cash would fund 22 caseworkers, each supporting 50 people. It said about half of those would not reoffend, saving £25m in prison costs.

The charity said the investment would be "very low risk with massive potential to change lives".

The BBC has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.

Tempus Novo estimates the annual cost of keeping an inmate in prison is £46,600 - but the cost of helping one find employment is just £3,500.

'Huge stigma'

The charity was founded by Val Wawrosz and Steve Freer, who both worked at HMP Leeds in Armley, one of the UK's most overcrowded prisons, for 30 years.

They said it had already found sustainable jobs for almost 1,000 ex-offenders with no government funding.

Mr Wawrosz said: "The money we could actually save the country with £1m of government funding is nearer £51m, but the government says around 50% of ex-offenders are likely to stay out of prison - so we always halve our projections."

The pair said they had seen first-hand how "complicated" the criminal justice system was to navigate and that most of the people they helped find work came from "the type of nothing we have never experienced".

Mr Freer told the BBC: "There is a huge stigma nationally against people with convictions accessing work.

Founders Steve Freer and Val Wawrosz, who worked at HMP Leeds for 30 years

"A lot of them have very little education, come from the depths of poverty and never had a chance.

"We saw there was a big appetite from within so we liaised with local businesses and found people who were looking for hard-working, loyal employees and that's what we provide.

"We give them a bit of hope, people who haven't had a chance, never mind a second chance."

Mr Freer also said some businesses were nervous about employing convicted criminals so the charity offered a "vital" 12-month support plan for both parties.

One of Tempus Novo's staff is Sue, a former prisoner who came across the charity in her local job centre five years ago.

She said when she left prison it was "heart-wrenching" trying to find a job as she was met with so much judgement.

Sue came across Tempus Novo in her local job centre after leaving prison

Sue started working at Tempus Novo in admin and is still on their staff today.

She said: "I didn't come from poverty or the care system but it didn't make me any better, I also came out to nothing.

"What they do is amazing."