Employing ex-offenders 'can bring wider community benefits '

Employing ex-offenders is an opportunity for businesses to do good and generate rewards for the wider community.

That 's the view of Avril Grant (pictured), chief executive of AVision for Empowerment (AVision), a Digbeth-based organisation which has successfully helped 10 young people turn their lives around and secure work during the pandemic.

AVision have been working with young people via its Breakthrough Enterprise Skills Training (BEST) project, funded by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Working with 18 to 35-year-olds, the AVision team offers specialised coaching and guidance, holistically developing ex-offenders to help them secure work and develop long, successful careers outside of crime.

The project assists service users with work mindset work to support their mental health, interview coaching, CV, application support and crucially six months 'in-work ' support for them, and their employer, on the commencement of their employment.

One of AVision 's success stories is Kieran, who needed help with his motivation, developing his CV and finding job opportunities.

With the help of AVision, which provided coaching and development support as well as help to adjust his CV, Kieran landed a supply chain role with a major national supermarket.

But the benefit of the project extends beyond helping young people, Avril says.

She said: “Our project is a chance for organisations to 'do good' and provide equal opportunities, develop a non-discriminatory culture, and create opportunities that generate greater reward for the wider community.

“The young people that we support can offer businesses support, essentially an extra pair of hands to add value and build support capacity as we emerge from the pandemic.

“Candidates are often extremely hard working, have a good work ethic and have more to prove than typical candidates,

“If a business takes on a former offender, they are providing real chances to these young people to change, and inspire a new culture for young, multicultural, innovative leaders and entrepreneurs to emerge.

“We believe that everyone can achieve success regardless of their past history. I started AVision to inspire people to achieve success. ”

Like many other businesses, AVision has faced difficulties while carrying out its project. But, it has not stopped them from securing work for young former offenders, and has even been able to place them in key sectors which have kept the country moving through the health crisis.

Avril added: “It 's often difficult to imagine career success in a pandemic, but at AVision we are committed to helping our clients into successful long-term employment and career opportunities no matter what the barrier.

“The pandemic hasn 't stopped us though, throughout this difficult period we have successfully assisted many of our service users into employment within the 'key work ' sectors allowing them to help us all as we fight to beat Covid.

“As we slowly emerge from the peak of the pandemic we are excited to look to the future and continue to guide and support people into their dream careers. ”