The Upper Room's UR4Driving award-winning project aims to break cycles of offending and long-term unemployment for prison leavers and those ‘at risk’ of criminality by teaching them to drive, and providing employment advice, in return for 80 hours of voluntary work.
Categories
Beneficiaries
The prison population in England and Wales is 87,726, projected to hit 95,100–114,200 by 2027. 60% of prisons are crowded. Reoffending is endemic, with rates at 26.4%. 47% enter prison with no qualifications; 62% have low literacy; 42% have been expelled or excluded from school; 60% have no employment history. Employment on release reduces reoffending by up to 9 percentage points. UR4Driving provides a positive learning experience, individualised employment advice and a tangible skill.
•Recruit 57 participants. Produce a tailored action plan. •80hrs of mandatory volunteering. •Theory support: home-learning resources; 3 group workshops & 8 drop-in sessions per week; two tests allowed. •Employment support – minimum of two 1-2-1 sessions must be attended. Covering CV development, applications, interviewing and disclosing sentences. •Up to 40hrs of driving lessons provided and two practical tests. •Consistent mentoring and holistic support provided with appropriate referrals.