The Clink Charity is preparing to launch its third training restaurant at HMP Brixton: planning permission has been granted to proceed with transforming the old Governor’s house that has been used recently as administration offices within the grounds of the prison into a three-story restaurant and meetings venue due to open in early 2014.
Five Step Programme
The restaurant will follow The Clink’s Five Step Programme that has been successfully implemented at the award winning and successful Clink restaurant at HMP High Down in Surrey, educating prisoners and equipping them with the skills and tools to secure employment upon their release.
More Clink Restaurants to follow
Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink Charity believes Brixton will cement the future for further Clink restaurants. “Brixton was the perfect site for our next restaurant. HMP Brixton is undergoing a regeneration project and was looking for an organisation to work with to develop the building into an opportunity for rehabilitation. The central location lends itself to securing support from local businesses and members of the public, providing they are committed to The Clink’s vision and once the necessary security checks have been processed, providing real-life experience for those prisoners who make it through the selection process to join the programme.”
In 2012 The Charity agreed a partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS) who supports the charitable initiative in a bid to open a further seven Clink Restaurants over the next four years.
Reliant on support
The charity is solely reliant on the generous support of the industry, charitable trusts and philanthropic individuals to build future Clink restaurants and each training restaurant relies on the income from diners and donations to operate.
Facilities for meetings
In addition to the 100 seat restaurant, the building will also include rooms for business meetings and working lunches. Providing five rooms for companies to organise ‘phone free’ meetings, without interruption, will provide vital income for the charity to continue to operate the restaurant. AV equipment will be available for use and the meetings will operate the same way as any other commercial meeting venue in London, whilst providing additional experience to prisoners looking for employment upon their release.
Helping to reduce re-offending
Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright says: “”This is a great partnership, which gives offenders the chance to learn skills that can help them secure employment once they leave prison.
“We know reoffending rates are unacceptably high and it’s through projects like this that we can help them build a strong work ethic that will ultimately enable them to turn their backs on crime.”
In addition to helping reduce reoffending The Clink Charity also aims to change the public’s perception about prison and the opportunities to rehabilitate prisoners effectively. In 2012, The Clink Cymru and The Clink HMP High Down welcomed over 15,000 diners to their restaurants.