🥧 From Prison to Purpose: Co-op Partners with HMPasties in Landmark Deal Supporting Prison Leaver Employment
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At Genuine Futures, we’re passionate about working with partners who turn second chances into lasting change — and few embody that better than HMPasties.
This incredible social enterprise, founded by Lee Wakeham, is built on one simple but powerful belief: people deserve more than punishment — they deserve purpose.
By employing and training prison leavers, HMPasties helps to break the cycle of reoffending, rebuild confidence, and restore dignity through the power of work.
A Landmark Deal with Co-op
HMPasties has just reached a huge milestone — securing a landmark partnership with Co-op, which will see their handmade pasties and pies stocked in nearly 80 Co-op stores across Greater Manchester. This is more than a commercial win — it’s a statement of hope.
It means that every time someone buys a pasty from Co-op, they’re helping someone rebuild their life after prison.
“As someone who’s been to prison myself, I know how tough it is to get a second chance. Without meaningful work, many fall back into the cycle of crime,”
— Lee Wakeham, Founder of HMPasties
Co-op’s commitment goes beyond selling great food — it’s about creating safer, stronger communities by supporting real rehabilitation through employment and enterprise.
Genuine Futures x HMPasties: Shared Purpose, Shared Impact
Our partnership with HMPasties reflects everything we stand for at Genuine Futures:
- Turning lived experience into leadership.
- Creating employment pathways for those who’ve faced disadvantage.
- Building community through enterprise.
Just as HMPasties provides second chances for prison leavers, our Boss Your Future and We Shine Any Car programmes help young people who are NEET, care-experienced or justice-involved to gain confidence, skills and direction.
Together, we’re proving that with the right support and opportunity, people can — and do — transform their futures.
Why This Matters
- Employment reduces reoffending and strengthens communities.
- Social enterprises like HMPasties and Genuine Futures bridge the gap between justice and opportunity.
- This partnership with Co-op sets a national example of how business can drive real social value.
A Call to Action
We’re calling on more businesses, funders and community leaders to follow Co-op’s lead. Open your doors. Create pathways. Invest in people. Because when we give people purpose — we don’t just change lives, we change communities.
Read more about HMPasties’ Co-op partnership: Co-op News https://www.co-operative.coop/
Learn more about our impact: Boss Your Future Bolton Impact Report; https://bossyourfuture.net/