“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 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.”
“… 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…”
“Inside this place, it’s been fun. It’s been a lot of fun. I really like it here. I’ve learnt a lot, especially off Graham. He’s been a good mentor and the workshop is the place I enjoy the most. I love working with wood, doing different things. I learnt to use different machinery. It’s gives … More Shadar haran says: “I think I’ve changed for the better…”
“Well, opportunity innit. I mean I’m doing nothing. Probation … community plan. I used to be … what do you call it now? Where you’re committing crime all the time. I used to be on prolific offenders during me 20’s and 30’s … burglaries, robberies, woundings, stuff like that. I done robberies mostly. I were … More Mick says: “I like coming here – I feel a sense of peace. I feel at peace now…”
“I think it was probation that recommended me out here and the court went with it. I don’t know. Whether Chris saw something in me or because he and my dad had a landscape business. I don’t know. I didn’t hide anything when I spoke to him. I wasn’t going I can’t tell you that, … More Charlie, 8 years on: “basically you get what you give, that’s LandWorks, as it says on the sign, it’s acceptance, that’s exactly what it’s about…”
“…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 