Stan says: “I tend to sit and listen to see if I can trust ‘em. I don’t wanna hang onto people that would be annoying, but lucky enough here, nobody’s annoying. Now I’m on the right path.”

“I came to LandWorks so I could get out a bit more. To learn new stuff. Probation brought me to visit. It was good. Felt like it was a good atmosphere. I was nervous meeting new people. Yeah, I was nervous about meeting new people, but once I met them, I’m ok. I get the … More Stan says: “I tend to sit and listen to see if I can trust ‘em. I don’t wanna hang onto people that would be annoying, but lucky enough here, nobody’s annoying. Now I’m on the right path.”

Ray says: “Being here…it’s a non-custodial sentence … you’ve gotta give back, you’ve gotta have my time and my labour as opposed to me losing my liberty…”

… I’ll get somewhere to put a few possessions so I can lock a door behind me and put my head down on a pillow. That’s a good thing to do, find somewhere to live, which I’m sure I’ll be able to do soon. Yeah, and get some work. I ain’t fussed. I’ll probably just … More Ray says: “Being here…it’s a non-custodial sentence … you’ve gotta give back, you’ve gotta have my time and my labour as opposed to me losing my liberty…”

Jimbob says: “LandWorks makes you feel more like you’re part of the community and it makes me want to be able to do something with my life…”

“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: “LandWorks makes you feel more like you’re part of the community and it makes me want to be able to do something with my life…”

Seb says: “I’m supposed to be giving back to my community but I feel like the community’s giving to me…”

“The reason why I’m here today is obviously an offence regarding my ex-wife and stuff and her family. I was going through like a bit of a mental breakdown, and I was like trying to see a doctor and by then the damage was done and the police were involved, and you know, I was … More Seb says: “I’m supposed to be giving back to my community but I feel like the community’s giving to me…”

Aaron says: “I’ve been surprised by the people I’ve met…”

“Obviously, I’m here doing my hours that I was given by probation for a car accident that I had back in October last year… I actually came for a little walk round, just to meet everyone. I was very nervous about coming here. It sounds awful, doesn’t it. You have an image in your head, … More Aaron says: “I’ve been surprised by the people I’ve met…”

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…”