Social Enterprise Announces Ambassador Programme for People in Prison
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Entrepreneurs Unlocked, a Bolton-based Social Enterprise, has launched an Ambassador Programme where prison leavers turned business owners will share their stories with people in prison to inspire, motivate and encourage them to start their own crime-free future.
Entrepreneurs Unlocked works with people in prison and on probation to embark on a new self-employment pathway by providing specialist programmes, advice, and support.
Ambassadors joining the programme will visit prisons to share their stories with prisoners and showcase how they have turned their lives around to become successful entrepreneurs and business owners. John Hastings, Director of Recycle-IT CIC, and Sam Smith, Founder of Genuine Futures CIC are the first to join the programme.
David Morgan, Founder of Entrepreneurs Unlocked, said: “I am delighted to launch the Ambassadors Program and to welcome John and Sam to join us in supporting and inspiring people in prison. It is incredibly impactful to hear their stories and to learn how they have both turned their lives around.
“For the people in prison it is crucial that they hear from people that they can relate to and learn from and ultimately be inspired and motivated to start their own entrepreneurial path to self-employment and a crime-free future.”
Entrepreneurs Unlocked Ambassador, John Hastings, is Director of Recycle-IT! CIC, a business that recycles and refurbishes computers and electronic equipment for use by people from disadvantaged backgrounds who are facing digital exclusion and digital poverty.
John Hastings left school at 15, with no qualification or formal skills. He had twenty-nine convictions and nine custodial sentences.
John Hastings said: “The major obstacle in business and in my life was the lack of belief I had in myself. When you have been put down over and over, and told that you are not worth anything, it becomes ingrained, and we need to remind ourselves that we can get ourselves out of entrenchment.
“I am delighted to join Entrepreneurs Unlocked as an Ambassador and I’m looking forward to seeing what new talent and ideas there are. By providing some of my own insights on my own journey from prison through to running a successful business, I’m hoping to share the positives that you get from becoming an entrepreneur.”
Sam Smith, social entrepreneur, and co-founder of Lancashire based Genuine Futures CIC, spent his teenage years, and much of his early adult life, in the care of the local authority, and spent time in several youth offender institutions across the UK. Sam has joined Entrepreneurs Unlocked as an Ambassador to share his story and to inspire others.
Sam Smith said: “One day I decided enough was enough and that I had to better my life. With the support of people like David Morgan I am making a difference every day and with my work, so far, I have helped to transform the lives of over 300 individuals, and this is what I am most proud of.
“As an Ambassador for Entrepreneur’s Unlocked, I am looking forward to helping people in prison and on probation to consider their own entrepreneurial journey, as everyone, regardless of their background or circumstance, deserves the opportunity to build a brighter and more fulfilling future.”
Entrepreneurs Unlocked programmes include entrepreneurial skills exploration sessions, self-employment short courses, smart subcontracting programmes for people wanting to learn about getting into construction, and offender to entrepreneur programmes.
To find out more about Entrepreneurs Unlocked please visit www.entrepreneursunlocked.org.uk