In the Hubs, prisoners can work with staff to identify their employment needs. The Hubs enable employment partners to collaborate to provide tailored advice and services to support prisoners on their employment journey.

Services may include:

• Producing a CV.

• Accessing guidance on career pathways.

• Viewing vacancies and applying for suitable jobs.

• Applying for a bank account and ID.

• Receiving assistance on how to access Universal Credit and other support on release from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

 

Prison Employment Leads

Employment Hubs are managed by a Prison Employment Lead (PEL), who works closely with key partners in the prison including DWP, probation, education and Information Advice and Guidance providers.

All prisons that have a resettlement function have a PEL. They are the key point of contact for employment in prison to ensure serving prisoners can take up work and training opportunities, and more prisoners leave custody with a job. 

They do this by:  

• Driving the overall employment strategy for their prison.

• Assessing the job readiness of prisoners to understand their needs and career aspirations.

• Matching prisoners to suitable jobs.

• Managing the Employment Hub.

PELs have regular interaction with prisoners to better understand their needs and match them to suitable, sustainable employment. 

PELs also run regular recruitment drives across a variety of sectors to increase awareness of prisoners and prison leavers as a recruitment choice and provide opportunities for employers to engage directly with prisoners. 

The PEL works closely with the ID and Banking Administrator who ensures that prisoners leave custody with a bank account and ID so they can provide right to work documentation to employers. 

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Prisoner Banking Programme

A bank account enables prison leavers to access employment, accommodation and welfare payments.

Prisons that join the programme are officially partnered with one of seven banking providers that have volunteered to take part: Barclays, the Co-operative Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Group, Natwest Group, Santander, and Nationwide Building Society. 

The programme enables those individuals who do not have an existing bank account and need one for use on release to apply for a basic bank account whilst in custody. Sentenced prisoners with no more than six months and no less than six weeks left until their release date are eligible for the Banking Programme. 

“UK Finance is pleased to support and work with New Futures Network and its partnering member firms on the Prisoner Banking Programme, which offers a Basic Bank Account to eligible individuals who might otherwise might have left prison without a bank account.

The finance sector, working with organisations such as New Futures Network, has significantly reduced the number of adults believed to be unbanked in the UK.

The industry recognises the importance of financial inclusion and access to banking services and looks forward to continuing its work with New Futures Network.”

UK Finance