April 03rd, 2022

rehabilitation and resettlement

​​Inside Connections was formed in 2017 to provide services and support to businesses and education facilities, offering access to training leading to sustainable employment. As an ex criminal John turned his life around and helps others do the same. Since then they’ve helped thousands of people, with over 100 employers engaged.

He says, “I was raised on a Liverpool council estate in the 1970s. The streets were riddled with drugs and crime in a deprived Britain at the time, particularly the north. We never had much growing up. The ones who had the nice clothes, watches and cars rom the area weren’t coming out of a good education in a well-earned job, that was unheard of. It was the drug dealers and criminals. 

In the environment I get up in there was only two choices. Educations wasn’t really an option, it was selling drugs and making money or take drugs and lose everything. Heroin was rife, I didn’t want that for me so I got into criminality at a young age, heroin being one of the things I wouldn’t sell.

In 2017 I was released from prison after serving a second prison sentence for 6 out of 12 years for money laundering and the transportation of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines worth millions, around the UK. The last part of my sentence I served 19 months as a category D prisoner in the Isle of Sheppey, which was a 540 mile round trip for a one hour visit for my family. Witnessing my young family struggle because of something I had done was a major factor for my rehabilitation and resettlement and I needed to do something about it.

I set up a website and mobile app aimed at prisoners, their families, victims of crime, communities, key services and support partnerships to prevent offending and re-offending.

Secondly I set up a Community Interest Company and trust fund aimed at offering supported care services for the most vulnerable in society. For example those exiting the prison system, care home or military systems and young offenders.

To say that I am passionate about reform and rehabilitation is an understatement. I witnessed first hand the changes within the UK prison system; prisoners, prison officers and staff struggling under the weight of an ageing and antiquated criminal justice system. But also the families and victims struggling on the outside.My aim is to support the 45% of 16-18 year olds released from the care home system and who immediately go onto commit crimes and end up in prison. Prevention is better than cure.

I designed the Inside Connections app to be totally outward looking, open minded and with a global reach. I put families and communities back at the heart of reform and rehabilitation through carefully considered -and delivered- support care programmes and housing, education, training and job opportunities.

I believe that we need to support these individuals who want to grasp another chance at life. If I can change my life and help others for the better, by guiding the most vulnerable along a path that leads away fro crime, then that must be a good thing.”

For more information go to insideconnections.co.uk or call 0800 680 1676