AN innovative company aimed at rehabilitating offenders at HMP Hewell, which has been funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, is moving forward – with new people and organisations coming on board.
Inside Products was launched in April in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, with the aim of selling services or products made inside prisons to the public. Since it started, the new company has made a number of key steps forward.
The initiative covers offenders at HMP Featherstone in Wolverhampton has joined HMP Long Lartin, HMP Hewell, and HMP Stoke Heath with potential retail outlets identified in Ross-on-Wye, Shrewsbury and Telford.
Local prisons have historically operated schemes which see offenders making a range of products as part of their rehabilitation – ranging from chess sets through to garden furniture.
This new company gives them a way of getting those goods to market, but also improves both the volume of offenders who can benefit from training, and means they get a better, more relevant experience.
