“I done most of my time in the local prison. I see the LandWorks signs everywhere in there, but they stopped doing the ROTL then, so when I come out on licence my probation officer told me about LandWorks, so I kind of knew what it was about. He reckoned I’d like it, so he come and showed me around and I’m here. Do you know what I mean? That’s the gist of it in the short story.
I’m glad I come here. It’s nice, yeah, it’s chilled out. I’m not used to nice people. I thought what’s all this about? What are they after? Do you know what I mean? Then I realise it’s just a nice place to be innit. If you’ve not been around that it is … I’m standoffish … when people are too nice to me, like in public … what are you after mate? Do you know what I mean? That’s the natural thought that comes in my head. I guess if you meet a nice person you’d be like oh, isn’t he nice … I’m thinking who’s this dodgy guy like.
This time it’s given me the kick up the arse I need. I’m older, mentality’s changed. Do you know what I mean? Regards to like drug use and all that in the past, it’s not even entering my mind. It’s like something’s clicked. Do you know what I mean? Realised I’m too old for it. I’ve got too much to lose at the minute. I’m facing three years back in jail if I get re-called and then I don’t get to see the little ‘un. Do you know what I mean?
Since I’ve been away, all the old associates in that drug game and all that, at the time they were my mates because we’ve lived it together, they’re the only ones that have helped me, and now I’ve come out I couldn’t give a fuck about ‘em. Do you know what I mean? I say ‘hello, how are you’, I keep walking. Yeah, it’s done with … that old life. The people I’ve got around me now are people that wanna help, that don’t want me to go back inside, they are proper mates. Do you know what I mean? I’ve always been able to count my friends on one hand. Do you know what I mean? People that are just like … as long as I keep them close, things will be alright. I’ve got this place as well. Do you know what I mean? A bit of extra support. A bit of respite from the real world. Do you know what I mean?
This is what I think about the system, right, prison don’t change a person, rehabilitation’s up to the man. You could do every course that’s thrown at you ‘til you’re blue in the face, if you don’t wanna hear it, you ain’t gonna listen. Do you know what I mean? To be fair I did a lot of courses in there. Most of ‘em were just a load of bollocks … tick boxes. I only did ‘em to get my parole. I didn’t really get much of it that I didn’t already know, it’s mainly common sense and it can be very patronising, them courses, but my mentality changed like the last 16 months of my sentence. I just finally had enough. You learn it, you’re done with that lifestyle, done with the drug scene. It just comes to you … well, it did to me anyway. Some people need … there’s blokes in there that’s 60 years old, still going on like they’re 20. Do you know what I mean? Something clicked, I can’t tell you what it was, some kind of awakening. It weren’t thanks to any course or anything like that.
Over the last month though, I reckon if that … when I was homeless, like literally in the Bay, if that continued for another month or two, it could’ve gone the crime way. I had to start having to seriously do summit to sort myself out, but I stuck by it, done everything by the book, utilised what was around me, night shelters, stuff like that. It was horrible … sofa-surfing where I could and then living in a tent, on a bench, in a night shelter, full of drugs, people smoking heroin in the toilets and all that. I woke up and there was some girl sitting there smoking a spice spliff in the bed next to mine. It is bad mate. So I got myself out of there.
[How does LW help people] Well, respite for one. Shows ‘em new skills innit, learn summit new, maybe give people confidence if they ain’t got it, being around nice people. It’s a game-changer that some of the people are not used to. The help and support … May helped me out, if it weren’t for May I wouldn’t be in that place now. She helped me with emails and the paperwork and stuff. I wouldn’t have had a clue what I’m doing coz I needed to get the money from the council to pay for this property. To get that was a ball-ache, but she helped me write them.
Yeah, it’s just good for people’s mental health and it’s learning new things as well innit. Yeah, making contacts, socialise as well, it’s a social one innit. It’s like you sit there on your own most of the time, go out for a mooch … especially when you’re trying to change your life around, you’ve fucked off all your mates so you can’t pick up the phone … if you wanna go out for a beer with this geezer coz you know it’s gonna mess you, so you are secluded to a certain amount of people and all my mates are working, doing their own thing, so I’m sitting around on my own a lot. I appreciate that. Do you know what I mean? I just like being here. Yeah.
The highlight … dinner … the food. Yeah, that’s a belter. It’s laid back innit. Nothing’s rushed. Things will be done when it gets done and everybody just knows what they’re doing. It’s organised well innit. Everyone’s got their own space. You get to try different things and work in different places.
Also, coming here, even though I see probation here, I don’t have to go to probation anymore because my PO is linked with this place, so that saves me trudging all the way up to the office. It’s less formal. Do you know what I mean? I get on well with him. I speak to him on the phone a lot. So that’s a bonus as well.”
A window into LandWorks 