“So, I’ve always had real interest in working with people who have been through the Criminal Justice System. I think when … yeah, when I was kind of like trying to decide what I wanted to study and things like that, criminology was kind of right up there and criminal psychology and kind of understanding … More Lexa says… “You’re allowed to be a bit odd here, which is quite nice.”
“I’m here because I lost me temper. I lost me temper and I didn’t think through my actions before doing what I did […] So yeah, would I do it again? No. It’s just not worth the hassle it’s caused, but you know, yeah, that’s what’s brought me to LandWorks. I got given a community … More Joe says: “The things that I need and want out of life, I won’t get from this place. But it does give me a bit … it breaks up the monotony cycle of my life”
“I like being around non-judgemental people and when you’ve just recently been found guilty in court of wrongdoing, a lot of people around you in your life, people that read it in the newspaper, all like to take that opportunity to put you down and hold it over you, so it’s quite refreshing to be … More Stef says: “The bit that’s hardest to quantify isn’t to do with producing things for LandWorks. So, it’s not really the bit that’s ticking your hours off, it’s the bit in between where the magic happens.”
“…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…”
“… 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…”
“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…”
“…it was at a bad time in my life where I’d come out of a divorce and lost me kids, lost everything through drink and a bit of drugs and bad company, a boyfriend that beats me up. But yeah, coming out to LandWorks has really helped because it gave me confidence to go out … More Molly says: “Here, we’re just one school”
“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…”
“I’m more confident, a lot more confident, yeah, yeah. I’m more confident standing up in front of everyone … my own opinions. I’ve never really liked speaking about my own opinions and things. I didn’t like the reaction of people, but now I kind of think … I’m free to say my own opinions aren’t … More Dave says: “A lot of it is to do with trust…”
Obviously, I want to sort myself out and get my own place and stuff. I’m having a new start this year. I just feel positive, and I just don’t want to keep going to prison. I’ve got my two boys to think about as well, you know. I just don’t want to keep going around … More Tyler says: “I just felt like I wanted to go back to prison for a couple of months really. When you’re in there you’re just … it is a bit of a break like.”
A window into LandWorks 