Key4Life is a South West charity that aims to save lives and help break the cycle of crime. The charity relies on the support of corporate partners to succeed in its mission of rehabilitation through employment, to reduce re-offending.

Key4Life have trained and mentored over 3000 male offenders looking to make a positive difference and change their lives for the better. And together with their corporate partners, the charity has enabled opportunities for young men in the form of work experience, placements and employment, instilling hope, confidence and resilience as they take their first step into the world of work upon release from prison.

To successfully achieve this, the charity delivers an innovative 7-Step programme and hosts several workshops throughout the year, and this Summer, Lancer Scott was invited to HMP Bristol for an in-prison session, supporting a group of male offenders with employability training.

HMP Bristol is a local Category B men’s prison in Bishopston, Bristol. A Victorian-era establishment, it holds both remand and sentenced adult male prisoners and operates as an important reception and short-term holding prison within the South West custodial estate.

Lancer Scott was invited to participate at a workshop titled ‘Meet the Companies’. This was part of a three-week programme, working with a select group of men in prison that wanted to turn their lives around and find education, training and employment upon release. Nia Hughes, Head of Marketing and Events at Lancer Scott, attended the workshop and supported the men with mock-interview practice, sharing live feedback. They were also provided with an insight into the many trades in construction.

The workshop aimed to boost participants morale and confidence. By working with corporate partners like Lancer Scott, the workshop ignites a sense of hope for those soon to be released, as they tackle and prepare to take on the world of work.

Following the programme, Nia Hughes commented: “I’m honoured Key4Life asked us to support them in this programme, it has been incredibly worthwhile and inspiring to witness the commitment from these young men at HMP Bristol taking positive steps towards a successful release from prison. Despite vastly different backgrounds and challenges, these men showed resilience, a genuine willingness to learn and improve, and a real desire for turning their lives around for the better. Thank you to the Key4Life team for the work they do in supporting rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, and rebuilding futures. The impact of this programme was clear to see.”

Lancer Scott’s Head of Recruitment, Claire Fearon, was also asked to participate in a Dragons’ Den-style workshop at HMP Bristol, which saw the young men develop business plans and discuss entrepreneurial ideas. Joining the panel of five Dragons, Claire supported the participants with invaluable feedback, tips and encouragement for their ideas.

Eva Hamilton, Founder & CEO of Key4Life, commented: “A huge thanks to Nia and Claire for supporting these men on our programme at HMP Bristol develop their entrepreneurial ideas and interview skills – you’ve both made a huge difference. And many thanks to Lancer Scott for your ongoing support of Key4Life – we look forward to developing our relationship to help more young men move away from crime and build bright futures.”

To understand more on the work and community impact of Key4Life, please visit the website: https://key4life.org.uk/