The Clink Integrated Rehabilitation Programme (CIRP)

The Clink Charity and New Futures Network (NFN) part of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) today announced the launch of a brand-new sector led integrated prisoner training programme, The Clink Kitchens.

Following the success of three Clink Kitchens pilot sites set up in February 2018 at HMP Bristol, HMP Risley and HMP Styal, both organisations are delighted to announce the adoption of the scheme across more UK prisons.

The Clink Kitchens is the latest programme developed by The Clink Charity as part of their Clink Integrated Rehabilitation Program (CIRP). For the first time in custodial services, the sector is driving the training and shaping the work experience for the individuals looking to enter the hospitality industry.

The Clink Charity has been working in partnership with HMPPS for the past 11 years delivering the unique integrated training programme to prisoners on the inside and on release. The Clink Charity continues to work and support Clink Graduates upon release, helping them reintegrate back into society and full time employment.

The Clink Kitchens project is being fully funded by The Clink Charity due to the generosity and support of grant maintaining trusts and philanthropists including Julia and Hans Rausing, Porticus and Sandy and Sue Arbuthnot over a 3-year commitment.

Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer MP, said: ‘This expansion of the catering programme is testament to the thousands of training and job opportunities it has provided for offenders over the years. Cutting reoffending and its vast cost to society is a priority for this
government. Training within prison leads to employment on release, which we know has such a positive impact on ex-offenders, their families and communities, and ultimately reduces crime’.

Finlay T K Scott, Chairman of The Clink Charity said: ‘Reducing crime and improving all of our lives is at the heart of what The Clink does. This latest initiative in partnership with HMPPS underlines the tremendous impact The Clink programme has had over the last ten years. We will build upon the success of our innovative integrated programme and roll out CIRP across the prison estate. This platform will dramatically increase the number of students we are able to rehabilitate with the subsequent impact upon reoffending figures’.

Christopher Moore, Clink Charity Chief Executive commented: ‘Reoffending remains one of the most pressing challenges facing society today. The economic and social cost of reoffending is £18.1bn per annum. The Clink in partnership with HMPPS changes attitudes, transforms lives and creates second chances by training serving prisoners during their sentence and then helping them reintegrate back into society, employment and accommodation upon release. The roll out of The Clink Kitchens project over the next 3 years will enable us to continue to repair society and make a difference’.

Clink training

All Clink training projects replicate a real-life working environment on the inside whilst the students work towards gaining their City and Guilds National Vocational Qualifications Levels 1, 2 and 3. Students gain soft skills such as learning to work as part of a team, growing in confidence and improving their communication skills. The students train up to 35 hours per week, preparing them to be ‘work ready’ upon release.

Supported by NFN and HMPPS, The Clink will deliver training in up to 70 prisons over the next 3 years. This will enable up to 2,000 men and women in prisons to achieve qualifications in hospitality and gain employment upon release, proven to dramatically
reduce reoffending.

This new programme will be delivered in the main prison kitchens by Clink Kitchens trainers and assessors who are all hospitality industry professionals. Headed up by Gregg Brown, Director of Training and working alongside Jane Sanderson, Operations Director, the course will be available for prisoners to volunteer for training whilst working in the prison kitchens preparing and cooking over 80k hot meals a day for their fellow prisoners. The Clink Integrated Rehabilitation Programme (CIRP) is a unique programme which remains with the student at every stage of their training. From working with students on the inside to
meeting graduates at the gate upon release, The Clink Charity ensures each Clink Graduate is supported in the community for a minimum of 12 months.

The hugely successful collaboration between The Clink Charity and HMPPS is now able to replicate and scale up the learnings of CIRP over the past 11 years. The Clink will be able to increase the number of students daily from 220 to 800 a day.

Reducing reoffending

Nationally 48% of those released from prison go on to reoffend within the first 12 months of release. The Clink Charity was set up to break this cycle and in turn, support the hospitality industry.

The Clink 5 step integrated training programme trains prisoners in their last 6 to 18 months of their sentence. Upon release Clink Graduates are placed into full time employment and accommodation.

Recent independent research conducted by the Justice Data Lab and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in July 2019 states that prisoners participating in The Clink Charity’s CIRP training programme are 32% less likely to reoffend than those who did not go through the
programme. Pro Bono Economics (PBE) published an economic impact report in June 2020 that revealed that The Clink Charity’s prisoner training programme delivers an outstanding return on investment. For every £1 invested, The Clink is likely to generate at least £4.80 back to the prison service, Government and society in reduced reoffending rates as a result of its CIRP programme.

Training in UK prisons

The Clink Charity also delivers the following training programmes in prisons located in England and Wales:

. The Clink Restaurants – delivering City & Guilds qualifications in hospitality
– HMP High Down
– HMP Cardiff
– HMP Brixton
– HMP Styal

. The Clink Gardens – delivering City & Guilds qualifications in horticulture
– HMP High Down
– HMP Send
– HMP Styal

.The Clink Events – delivering City & Guilds qualifications in food production
– HMP Downview

The Clink Events also works to train in hospitality and front of house, working with homeless students from the Centrepoint charity. Students are part of The Clink Events team serving food at London venues including The Guildhall, St Pauls Cathedral and Trinity House.