The ‘Farming it Out’ campaign is aimed at prisoners released on Temporary License and ex-offenders. It targets enlightened business owners who see the benefit in rehabilitation. However, promoting and recruiting from prisons is not an easy process without the right services and support in place.
To enable sustainable recruitment and selection, ‘Farming it Out’ is a partnership between New Futures Network, a specialist employment team working within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Oswin Project . This partnership has two clear aims:
- Assist successful rehabilitation for ex-offenders through providing work on release
- Support the national need for farm workers
The partnership will engage with and provide information to farm owners, growers and managers that will enable them to promote their vacancies in prisons. It will also help prison staff to guide and support those who want to work on farms or for the seasonal harvest when released on temporary licence and on release through the application process.
Recruiting an ex-offender is no different than recruiting anyone else, though a potential employer probably has more reliable information about the applicant. They apply, they are interviewed, and the employer selects. It will always be the employer’s choice who works for them.
