I volunteer for New Leaf which provides help and support to ex-offenders in Oxfordshire, Berkshire or Buckinghamshire, including Milton Keynes. Through mentoring, New Leaf helps people re-settle into society following a term in prison. The aim is to reduce re-offending and to help people to fulfill their potential.

The challenges that recent offenders face when they leave prison are enormous and daunting and should not be underestimated: homelessness, substance abuse, no support network/family, no benefits to live off and little prospect of employment. Against this backdrop, ex offenders struggle to break the cycle of re-offending. But New Leaf has some amazing success stories., which you can hear about on their website: http://newleafproject.co.uk/volunteering-with-us

OutOfTheBox (OOTBox)

As part of New Leaf’s aim to help people fulfill their potential, they have created OOTBox. This is a social enterprise that up cycles clothing too worn or inappropriate to be given to the people we support, into individual bespoke fashion accessories and home furnishings. Items are produced and sold by vulnerable women who are not yet work ready, increasing their skills, self esteem and employability.

OOTBOx are asking people to pledge a minimum £100 towards the initial end of August £2500 target. If successful we will then be able to take part in a public crowd funding campaign in November, with the ultimate aim of raising the £10000 needed to complete the refit of a dedicated workshop and employ a staff member. The aim is for the programme to become self funding - reinvesting he income from the sales of the items produced.

Why do I care?

I have been fortunate to have had strong role models and family support networks, and a good education to help me fulfil my potential. This is an opportunity to help provide support and the chance to gain skills to enable others to fulfil their potential.