The Oswin Project has expanded its bakery at HMP Northumberland to meet growing demand for its bread, pies, quiches and cakes. The enterprise, jointly run by the Oswin Project and Sodexo, the prison operators, received funding to transform a disused prison kitchen.
The move allows the commercial bakery to expand and offer more inmates the chance to gain qualifications in food safety and learn specialised baking techniques. The scheme already trains 10 prisoners and will now offer places to a further 20.
New facilities officially opened
Run by professional staff and volunteers, the bakery's new state-of-the-art facilities were officially opened this week and shown to invited guests and sponsors. Funding came from grants from Scottish Power, The Community Foundation, St Hilda's Trust, The Convey Trust and the O'Flaherty Foundation.
Oswin baked goods are already available in the Café 16s within HMP Northumberland, and Newcastle Cathedral, as well as in the prison-based farm shop and through local outlets including Lesbury community shop, The Alnwick Garden and Foxton Golf Club. Ingredients will continue to be sourced locally wherever possible.
Rehabilitation and reoffending rates
The Oswin Project, based in the North East, provides a rehabilitation programme aiming to break the cycle of reoffending by giving those with criminal records the skills, support and opportunities to build positive futures.
Fiona Sample, Oswin CEO, said: “We all want safer communities and fewer victims of crime and that is why the Oswin Project’s Baking out project is so important. Through giving prisoners the opportunity to work and learn, underpinned by mentoring, we put a wedge in the revolving door of reoffending. Currently 80% of prisoners are on return trips to prison. The Oswin Project reoffending rate is just 3% against the national average of 38%. What we do works! Why successive Government’s persist in thinking that building more prison places is the answer is baffling. It is an incredibly expensive and ineffective option. At Baking Out, in partnership with HMP Northumberland, we aim to change this – one loaf, one pie, one tray bake at a time.”
Vicky Robinson, Director at HMP Northumberland, said: “We are proud of the long-standing partnership we have built with The Oswin Project, which has helped design a truly rehabilitative offer at Northumberland. The new bakery is a fantastic addition to an already diverse portfolio of purposeful activities we provide our prisoners. Baking Out is a brilliant initiative, which unlocks more opportunities for prisoners to gain the skills, experiences, and confidence that will prepare them for employment and a positive future on release.”
