Jack (2024) says: “…people here see that I’m actually worth something, that I could do well and do good in life…”

“I ended up here because drugs… Yeah, when I came here … yeah, it was mainly to do with drugs and stuff and just hung around with the wrong people. Yeah, if it wasn’t for this place, yeah, I’d be lost… Yeah, first time I’ve ever been with probation. I was smoking weed for … … More Jack (2024) says: “…people here see that I’m actually worth something, that I could do well and do good in life…”

John says: “…as much as they might be learning from you, you’re learning from people all the time, you’re receiving it back…”

This is a section from a transcript of a focus group carried out during the Inside Knowledge module run by the University of Plymouth at LandWorks in March 2024… Julie – What do you think are the key benefits of the enterprises at LandWorks? John – Oh, the list is so long … building self-worth, … More John says: “…as much as they might be learning from you, you’re learning from people all the time, you’re receiving it back…”

JimBob says: ”this place taught me to be truthful and to say how it is…”

“I’ve done quite a lot of stuff here like. It made me feel a lot more like … it changed my way of life … there’s more to life and that. It makes you feel more like part of the community and makes me want to be able to do something with my life. Before … More JimBob says: ”this place taught me to be truthful and to say how it is…”

David says: “once you’ve done it you can then stand back and go look at that, you’ve achieved that for the day, you’ve actually achieved something…”

“…coming out of prison it’s just hard to get work because most places won’t take you on with a criminal record so, I’ve been struggling really hard with that and just, my motivation was just going down and I was feeling a bit depressed. I wasn’t really doing much, so this has given me like … More David says: “once you’ve done it you can then stand back and go look at that, you’ve achieved that for the day, you’ve actually achieved something…”

Mabel says: “it’s really important to see that you can do something in one place in a community and it has huge ripples…”

“… I don’t have a house at the moment. I am living with friends and moving around. I mean I guess for me it’s a choice right now, so it feels like it’s ok. I was really struggling living in London with the whole like …busyness, the rent, the monotony, just hundreds and hundreds of … More Mabel says: “it’s really important to see that you can do something in one place in a community and it has huge ripples…”

Justina says: “they seem to be thriving now, and I’m seeing it in myself…”

“I vaguely remember the first day. I was very nervous, yeah. Do you know when it was? No, I don’t, because there was a few weeks I didn’t come. Some reasons were valid, but sometimes I just like, you know … but I’m loving it now and my mindset’s so much better. I really look … More Justina says: “they seem to be thriving now, and I’m seeing it in myself…”

Eric says: “I’ve sown stuff, I’ve planted it, I’ve grown it and I’ve harvested it and I’ve eaten it…”

“When I first come here, obviously you get given the choice between woodwork, pottery and gardening. I done the gardening, but I was doing the work on the poly-tunnels, and I thought to myself if I’m going to be doing this, I want to maintain it, I want to do it and keep up with … More Eric says: “I’ve sown stuff, I’ve planted it, I’ve grown it and I’ve harvested it and I’ve eaten it…”

Ben says: “that one person can actually give you a lot of your spark back. I think this place is brilliant for that”

…the judge said… he was like, if I see you in this court again, you are going down. I was like, thank you. I went into that court with a bag packed and everything thinking I was going. So yeah, better make the most of my last chance. I haven’t been inside yet and I … More Ben says: “that one person can actually give you a lot of your spark back. I think this place is brilliant for that”

Eric says: “I used to thrive off the narrow escapes of my own recklessness”

In prison I kept myself to myself. I just stood back and done my time. I saw it as a golden opportunity. I wanted to go to prison. I got stuck in a rut. I lost my job due to alcohol and drugs. Slowly, accommodation started to grind to a halt […] Where do you … More Eric says: “I used to thrive off the narrow escapes of my own recklessness”