Clink Expands Prison Chef Training to 70 Prison Kitchens

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and The Clink charity are set to increase their training programme in up to 70 prison kitchens.

Training will continue at HMPs Bristol and Styal but from the end of April these two will be joined new initiatives at Eastwood Park, Send and Downview.

A further rollout will create opportunities to help as many as two thousand offenders with the hope that routes into employment can keep them away from crime for good.

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 program has had over the last ten years.

“We will build upon the success of our innovative integrated program and roll it out 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.”

The partnership with The Clink Charity is one of many Government schemes aimed at supporting offenders into employment with the ultimate aim of cutting crime. Other initiatives include work placements for dozens of offenders as the construction of HMP Five Wells gets underway, as well as the new prison at Glen Parva.