Certificates awarded following completion of accredited ex-offender employment scheme

Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard today met participants from YouTurn Futures, Bedfordshire’s employment support scheme for people with convictions, marking the completion of the training programme and recognising its positive impact.

The scheme, launched earlier this year, aims to help individuals rebuild confidence, refresh key workplace skills and improve their readiness for employment following release from prison.

The cohort visited Bedfordshire Police Headquarters, where the PCC presented certificates to those who completed the course during a small ceremony. Colleagues from YouTurn Futures, Bedfordshire Police, the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) team and Probation were also in attendance.

During the visit, the PCC heard directly from participants about their experience of the training, its relevance to life after release and the practical skills they had gained to support their next steps into work.

Participants described the course as “very helpful” and “easy to learn,” with one saying it had provided skills they would now use in day-to-day life. Others said it helped them relearn forgotten skills, while improving their confidence around CV writing and interviews.

One of the participants from the course said: “It was enjoyable, very useful and I learnt new things every time I went. The tutors were very good.

“Once I got in there straight away, I took to it.  I’m doing this for my family and children and I would never ever go back to offending now.

Another said: “I found it very beneficial.  Someone like me with a criminal record, felt paranoid about how I would tell them about my past when I apply for jobs.

“With this training it’s taught us about how we can declare this in a professional way”.   

John Tizard, Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, said the feedback reinforced the importance of practical, timely support for people leaving custody.

He said: “I was very impressed by the ambition of the individuals awarded their certificates.

“They all spoke about how the training had helped them build their confidence and equipped them with practical skills to apply for jobs.

“This pilot demonstrates the value of partnership working between the police, probation and an organisation such as YouTurn Futures to make a real difference for people and the wider society.

“I hope that we will be able to secure funding to provide opportunities for more similar programmes”.

The scheme forms part of the PCC’s wider commitment to reducing reoffending through prevention, partnership working and evidence-based interventions.