Members of a Wilmslow church have been inspired by the first anniversary of a kitchen project at nearby Styal prison which has been set up to transform the lives of released offenders.
News of work by national charity The Clink was given to Wilmslow United Reformed Church by Mark Sillery, whose full time work for the organisation takes him around the country supporting ex-prisoners as they return to their families and so-called 'normal life' after time in prison. He was speaking after a recent visit to The Clink Restaurant at HMP Styal, which opened in April 2015.
He told church members how women and men in prisons can have their lives chances changed through work-based training and education. The Clink's own staff are qualified to assess prisoners during their prison-based learning.
The group learnt that staff aim to send prisoners out, when their sentences end, with a City & Guilds NVQ in Food Service and Food Preparation or equivalent qualification to their name. Some even leave prison with a job to go to straight away, while others are soon in work thanks to the extensive contacts of former chef Mark Sillery and his team of mentors.
Service at the Clink Restaurant at HMP Styal, which has been awarded The Sustainable Restaurant Association's 3 Star Award, is offered by 30 women prisoners. After a year of operation Styal Clink restaurant does not have a single re-offender.
Photo: Mark Sillery.
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Her smile put many other establishment employees to shame.
Go see for yourself Wilmslow and enjoy!