Dorwest directors Jo and Ben Boughton-White are supporting the 100 & First Foundation, whose mission is to reduce prisoners re-offending.
The 100 & First Foundation is a charity that runs courses in prisons with the aim of changing offenders’ mindsets. They believe in giving offenders the inspiration, hope and self-worth to create a positive personal change to prevent re-offending. Using powerful, inspirational real-life experiences as frameworks for beneficiaries to create and drive their own change, Managing Director and co-Founder Will Fraser launched 100 & First in 2020, inspiring change by starting ‘inside the prison’ and ‘inside the person’.
The Bars to Business project teaches entrepreneurial competencies such as creative problem solving and taking initiative, to help ex-offenders start their own businesses and boost employability generally.
Over a 4-week course, prisoners recognise a small business idea, develop the necessary entrepreneurial competencies and produce a simple business plan to effectively communicate their idea. To conclude the course, prisoners must deliver a pitch to an audience of family, friends, senior prison staff and business leaders.
Jo and Ben have recently been part of this pitch panel, giving feedback to potential entrepreneurs, drawing from their own experience. This concluding event consolidates course learning and gives them a profound sense of achievement that previously they would not have thought possible.
Jo said: “The Bars to Business project was a pleasure to be part of, supporting our local community and helping ex-offenders grow their entrepreneurial skills, looking to return to society successfully with a fantastic business plan.”
On top of all of this involvement, Jo and Ben are also proud to continue to be involved and sit on the EAB (Employment Advisory Board) at HMP Portland.
On 14th June, 100 & First Foundation walked 52km, taking 450m of elevation to raise awareness of the alarmingly high level of reoffending (52%) within the UK.
To find out more about 100 & First Foundation or wish to donate, visit www.100andfirstfoundation.com
To find out more about Dorwest, visit www.dorwest.com, or call one of their product experts today on 01308 897272 or email info@dorwest.com.
