International film and TV stars Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters have been named as ambassadors for the newly created Rebuilding Futures Alliance.
Both have starred in major Hollywood blockbusters and highly-rated TV like Boiling Point, This is England and Time– the BBC's acclaimed prison drama, which has given them both an extra insight into this topic.
The co-founders of Matriarch Productions are backing the new national alliance, which has launched to help relieve pressure on prison places by supporting people with past convictions to get jobs across Britain’s transport sector.
Founded by transport expert, Chris Leech MBE, the Alliance will connect those individual charities with major transport employers. The RFA believes this will break the cycle of criminality amongst the UK’s low risk prison population by offering them the chance to learn a skilled trade across the rail, bus and metro networks in Britain.
According to Government stats, the average cost to keep a prisoner in jail in2022-23 was £51,108. And reoffending costs the UK £18.1 billion annually.
Stephen said: "Prisons are at breaking point and when people do leave jail, 50% of individuals within the first 12 months fall back into the vicious circle of criminality and unemployment. The Rebuilding Futures Alliance aims to change all that for low risk offenders, who account for a large part of the prison population.
“It’s for that reason we are delighted to back this not-for-profit organisation and the potentially life-changing work they are now undertaking.”
Hannah said: "This is game-changing for employment, for public transport, infrastructure and for society. When someone serves their time, it’s critical that they get given the right support to put them on a path and that it is tracked, measured and reported.
"The Rebuilding Futures Alliance will do that, meaning less people in prison after falling back into criminality, more skilled, trained workers in one of the UK’s largest sectors and more money in taxes going back into the economy.
"Ultimately, it's about saving lives and breaking generational unemployment and criminality amongst low risk offenders. Everyone stands to benefit and we are delighted to be helping to lead this movement for change."
The RFA says reoffending rates are amongst the highest in the western world. One in two people reoffend within 12 months of release, compared to one in five if they secure a job with purpose.
Rebuilding Futures Alliance (RFA) has now begun work to bring 100+ past conviction charities together – and by working directly with transport’s biggest employers, the Alliance will help place and track low risk ex-offenders– tackling the workforce shortage in the sector.
Chris Leech MBE, Founder of RFA, added: “To have the backing of such high profile, talented people who have brought experiences of the prison system to life on the screen is just overwhelming and we can’t thank them enough.”
An employment tracker devised by partners, Genius, and a social value impact model created by partners Loop and the Rail Safety & Standards Board will be used to track each person’s progress into employment and measure the value to the economy, respectively.
The RFA board is made up of industry leaders including Nick Millington MBE, Network Rail Route Director; Peter Wilkinson, Major Projects Director DfT; Elaine Clark OBE, CEO Rail Forum; Dr Louise Cheesman, NED Go Ahead Group; Jan Garill Deputy Lieutenant North Yorkshire; Sharron Clow HR/Social Value consultant; Alex Ozioro Head of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs RSSB; Kay Coleman Managing Director Swanson Buck; Gemma Thomas Head of HR Wales& Boarders Network Rail, Chris Leech MBE founder of RFA.
The RFA is now calling on charities working with people with past convictions and transport employers to be part of the project.
In rail alone, a recent NSAR survey* reports:
It is thought this is the first time one not-for-profit organisation has been created to connect the amazing work ex-offender employment charities do with employers nationally.
The RFA hopes to branch out across more sectors once the transport rollout is completed.
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