Enabling a more Diverse and Inclusive workplace
When asked, the majority of people in prison, 97%, expressed a desire to stop offending. When asked what factors would be important in their rehabilitation, most stressed the importance of having a job, somewhere to live, and support on release.
Esther, Founder of Myrtos Consultancy
Growing up I lived in a nice village on the edge of a nice town. Not long after we moved there when I was 4, our neighbours stole my parents’ car. I didn’t hear any more about that. A few years later a new family moved in.
The parents were addicted to drugs and alcohol, and the youngest son was often at our house; he became like a younger brother to me. It was during these times that I really witnessed my parents being loving, kind, caring, firm, but fair to the parents who so often turned up much later than they had promised to get their child.
My parents were patient when we would get a knock on the door late at night from a police officer asking us to take the youngest son in or be with the mother because one of the older boys or her partner had become violent.
I witnessed my parents love without judgement year after year after year. I can only say that it was during these years that a seed must have been planted in my heart to get to know and understand the men and women who find themselves in the criminal justice system.
Our
Story
Since then...
I now have over 13 years' experience working in the criminal justice sector, both in a custodial and community setting.
I worked as an Assistant Psychologist in a local men's prison, and then qualified as a Probation Service Officer within the same prison. My speciality was writing risk assessments on newly sentenced prisoners, seeking to understand what factors contributed to their offending behaviour, and working with them to find ways of helping them reduce re-offending on release.
I founded Myrtos Consultancy because I believe that everyone should be given a fair chance to work, grow, and thrive, regardless of their past. So many individuals who leave prison or who have a conviction feel ashamed and without a sense of purpose. Prison, or a life of crime, can often feel like the only place where they are understood. Providing employment to someone who has been through the criminal justice system increases yours and their social value, helps to break down the walls of shame, which in turn can break the cycle of offending and reduce recidivism.
I then began working for a charity in a community setting, assessing individual's suitability for a community mentoring programme on release from prison. I also trained mentors to support someone, who had a criminal conviction, in the community, providing them support and guidance as they mentored the individual they had been paired with. This has provided me with the community experience which has highlighted the challenges that men and women leaving prison can face; meaningful, sustainable employment being one of them.
My hope is that one day every employer is willing, and able, to hire someone who has a criminal record. I hope that more people who have been in the criminal justice system will have a sense of purpose, a loving community, and a way of positively being part of society.
Why Myrtos?
The word Myrtos is the Greek for Myrtle, which comes from the Hebrew word for the name Esther. Esther, the founder of Myrtos Consultancy, has a heart to see everyone realise their potential and be accepted for who they are not what they have done. The Myrtle plant has green leaves and either white, purple, red, or pink flowers. Its flowers symbolise love and devotion, the plant symbolises purity, hope and rebirth and the Hebrew for Myrtle means peace, joy, generosity, and justice. These are all attributes that Myrtos Consultancy stands for, and hopes will be extended to someone who has a conviction by businesses and organisations, as well as the wider society.
The Impact...
Reduce re-offending
The current reoffending rate is between 45%-60% depending on the length of time someone was in prison. Employment alone (not taking into account other factors) has been shown to reduce re-offending by 10%.
Save tax payers money
Each prison place per year costs, on average, £42,670 not including health, education, or court costs. As it stands, the approximated economic and social cost of reoffending each year, dominated by unemployed people with a conviction is £18 billion. Giving someone a job would enable them to contribute economically to society.
Enhanced reputation
Reliable employees
92% of employers say that diverse recruitment has enhanced their reputation, helping them with new contracts and business
Over 90% of employers who have hired someone with a conviction have positively rated their reliability, motivation, attendance and performance.
Be part of a Positive Social Change
Book in a chat with us today and start making an even bigger social impact