HMP Kirkham was our first prison partner. We opened our first HMP Academy within the Category D men’s prison back in 2012, having first supported men into ‘day release’ work placements with local employer partners. We opened a second workshop in the Lancashire facility in 2024.

“Recycling Lives has created a model that others have followed,” says Rob Hawes, Head of Reducing Reoffending & Employment, Skills & Work at the prison.

“They offer fantastic real-life work experience for prisoners, with opportunities to progress into ROTL jobs and employment on release, coupled with wrap-around care for release – work, skills and support are key to rebuilding prisoners’ lives.

“I have worked with, and been an advocate for, Recycling Lives since 2012, when they created their first Academy in HMP Kirkham. We were their first partner within the prison service.

“They now run two model workshops within our prison, providing employment for around 50 men at a time.

“We’ve seen other employment or charity providers adopt a similar approach to Recycling Lives Charity over the years. While others might have more sector-specific job offerings or opportunities to earn qualifications, they don’t have the same infrastructure in the community to provide the through-the-gate support that the Charity offers.

“The prison population is vastly underestimated as a resource for recruitment. Not all offenders are bad people. A large proportion will resettle in the community and live law-abiding lives, they just require a chance to prove themselves.

“We would welcome more employers to visit HMP Kirkham to see what we offer, speak to other companies employing prisoners, and chat to the prisoners themselves to get an understanding of what they have to offer.”

Pictured above is Kris, one of hundreds of men to have first worked with our team in our recycling workshops within HMP Kirkham