About Recycling Lives

Recycling Lives Charity

Recycling Lives Charity comprises both a charity and social enterprise.

We were founded in 2008, with an aim of reducing homelessness and reoffending by supporting men and women into stable housing and employment. We later added food redistribution to our model, in partnership with FareShare, to reduce food waste and tackle food poverty.

Our Values

  • Person-centred

    We always put the best interests of the people and communities we support first

  • Collaborative

    We form trusted partnerships across all sectors to deliver on our aims

  • Sustainable

    We deliver financially-sound programmes that create lasting change

  • Proactive

    We are entrepreneurial, fast-paced and responsive to change

Offender rehabilitation

Offender rehabilitation

Our offender rehabilitation programme has grown from working in one prison, HMP Kirkham in Lancashire, in 2008 to 11, across the North West and Midlands, by 2018. We are recognised by both publicly funded and charitable bodies in the criminal justice sphere for delivering unrivalled low reoffending rates.

Food Redistribution

Our food redistribution programme was added in 2015, as a partnership with national food charity FareShare. First delivering meals to just Lancashire, we expanded into Cumbria in 2017 and are trusted by the food industry and charities alike to reduce food waste and efficiently redistribute goods to feed communities.

Residential facility

Residential facility

Our residential facility has been underpinned by the same Six Stage programme since inception, honing its work to further develop its offer over the years. It has developed a reputation for delivering excellent, long-lasting results for individuals through a structured but flexible programme that suits each residents’ needs.

Our Mission

We are on a mission to encourage and empower people to achieve and sustain positive change.

By breaking down barriers and connecting people through positive opportunities we equip people with the skills and resources to improve their quality of life.

We think taking care of people only makes sense if we take care of the environment too.

Meet the team

The Charity is governed by an independent board of unpaid trustees and led by a Chief Executive and senior management team, with a team of 45 staff and 50 volunteers.

  • Alasdair Jackson, Chief Executive

    Alasdair has had a hands-on role in the Charity since day one, developing its offender rehabilitation while working as Operations Director for Recycling Lives Ltd. He moved to the Charity full-time in late 2018, now overseeing day-to-day running and strategic direction of the three programmes. He is also a board member of the Employers Forum for Reducing Reoffending, and a member of the Corbett Network and was recognised for his contributions with the Criminal Justice Champion award by the Howard League in 2019. Alasdair is the proud dad of two children and the reluctant dad of an excitable dog.

  • Tom Carysforth, General Manager

    Tom oversees operations for our prison- and community-based operations and food redistribution programme. He has been part of the Charity for a number of years, joining the team from Recycling Lives Ltd and bringing years of operational experience. He played an integral part in developing the HMP Academies’ operations. His measured and methodical approaches are critical to sustaining our programmes and impact. Now also overseeing the food redistribution programme, he is supporting the ongoing expansion and improvement of this work.

  • Neil Flanagan, Head of Residential

    Neil heads up our residential facility, supporting men throughout and well beyond their residencies. He has led and developed the programme since it was first founded, bringing years of experience from business management. More than just a manager, he is a mentor, coach, counsellor, brother or father to the men in his care. Over the years he has established trusted partnerships with employers, housing providers and local businesses to secure work and source accommodation and goods for men.

  • Faye McManus, Specialist Support Coordinator

    Faye leads our specialist support work, having established and quickly grown this new element of our offering. She manages a small team of experienced professionals to deliver personalised support to people struggling with ongoing issues with, or histories of, mental illness or substance misuse. She has previously led teams in secure hospitals, a residential rehab and specialist mental health services.

  • Rob Thackray, Rehabilitation Programmes Manager

    Rob heads up our rehabilitation team, responsible for changing lives through our prison- and community-based programmes. He has a wealth of experience, having worked in a range of roles and helped to develop our programmes. He’s well respected by his peers and immediately trusted by the men and women he’s supported over the years, thanks to his calm, caring and determined approach.

  • Gary Welsh, ACE Project Manager

    Gary leads the ACE Project team. He has spent 40 years in the criminal justice sector, including working with the police and probation service. Working in statutory services, he recognised the benefits of using holistic support and rehabilitation to reduce reoffending, rather than imprisonment, and moved into a role directly supporting offenders. He has been part of the ACE Project for eight years, first starting as a project worker before taking on the management role as the team moved to RLSE.

  • Shaun Collins, Academies Operations Manager

    Shaun manages our Academies, leading a team of 10 in the prison and community-based workshops as they support and rehabilitate people while delivering commercial contracts. His background is in operations, having previously managed one of our prison-based Academies. This gives him excellent insight into both the operational and pastoral side of the workshops.

  • Laura Hodson, Food Redistribution Manager

    Laura leads our food redistribution team, ensuring thousands of tonnes of food go to feed communities. Having first joined our team as a volunteer while completing her degree, she soon progressed into a full-time role as CFM Coordinator. Her excellent people skills and broad skillset made her a natural successor to become manager.

  • Jonathan Taylor, Chairman of Trustees

    Jonathan has led the team of trustees since 2011, responsible for the Charity’s financial, legal and operational position as it has grown. Jonathan is a developer by trade, running his own online businesses. He has also been a school governor and has worked as an advisor to other start-up charities. He is a devoted dad-of-three, a dedicated marathon runner and snowboarder.

  • Rev Canon Brian Mayne, Trustee

    Brian has been a long-time supporter of the Charity, first meeting many of its team and beneficiaries in HMP Kirkham, where he was Managing Chaplain. He worked in the prison service for 30 years and was chairman of Broadacres Housing Association for 18 years. He joined the trustees team in 2017, sharing his insights and compassion to advise on personal and pastoral care. He is now retired but remains busy volunteering at HMP Kirkham and in local churches, including as an organist. When he’s not doing this, Fimber the poodle is his priority.

  • Nicola Whittle, Trustee

    Nicola has been a trustee since 2019, volunteering her services after learning about Recycling Lives’ work while her law firm undertook some work for the Charity. She is a Corporate Partner at Brabners law firm, using her expertise and experience to ensure the Charity fulfils all legal and compliance obligations. Nicola is a ‘kitchen disco’ dancer, keen fell walker but only a fair-weather camper.

  • Charles Jackson, Trustee

    Charles was an original founder of both Recycling Lives Ltd and the Charity, with experience in recycling and waste management that spans four decades. A trustee since 2019, Charles adds commercial and governance expertise. As a main board director of British Cycling for 14 years he also represented UK Sport interests internationally. Still a keen cyclist, he regularly rides for pleasure with the occasional long distance 'challenge' ride.

  • Damien Snape, Trustee

    Damien has been a trustee since the charity was founded and has played an integral part in developing the offender rehabilitation programme. He is a qualified transport manager and has worked in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling industry since 2013, using his knowledge and contacts to support the operations and compliance of the prisons programme. He is best known as the wearer of the snappiest suits in the office.

  • Caroline Whalley-Hunter, Trustee

    Caroline is a chartered accountant whose 30+ year career saw her work across SMEs and global organisations, including BT and Serco. She has overseen a number of finance transformation programmes for businesses and is unafraid to challenge, as well as support, in her roles. Now retired, she is keen to share her skills and experience to benefit others - as well as spend quality time with friends and family, particularly her young granddaughter and cocker spaniel.

  • Charles Kay-Shuttleworth, Patron

    Lord Shuttleworth has been Patron of our Charity since 2011. As Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire he is closely involved in communities across the region, championing our work to organisations, businesses and other local leaders. Like us, Lord Shuttleworth is committed to collaborative working that creates opportunities for disadvantaged groups.