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.”

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.”

JimBob says: “If people had that opportunity, like LandWorks has given me, then the community and people would be paid off in the long run ‘cos they’d get stuff back and at the minute they don’t give you that chance.”

“My support worker was telling me about LandWorks because he went through the programme and told me how beneficial it was. It took me a few weeks or maybe a month to build up the courage to come here… I remember the first day I come here, yeah. I was quite nervous. I wasn’t too … More JimBob says: “If people had that opportunity, like LandWorks has given me, then the community and people would be paid off in the long run ‘cos they’d get stuff back and at the minute they don’t give you that chance.”

Benjy says: “It’s like a family thing. It’s good. It’s decent like…”

“I come to LandWorks obviously through my probation officer. So, I came out of jail and he asked me if I wanted to go and at the start I was like I don’t really … do you know what I mean? I don’t really like travelling, going places, but he took me out here for … More Benjy says: “It’s like a family thing. It’s good. It’s decent like…”

Shadar Haran says: “This place has changed me for the better”

“I had a job, but I got fired. I was making windows and replacement doors. It was quite an intense job. I did that for like 14 years, but alcohol got the better of me and I got fired … fair enough. I’ve been here about … can’t think … probably 11/12 weeks maybe. It … More Shadar Haran says: “This place has changed me for the better”

Tony says: “… coming here I call it work and probably a safe haven…”

“Everything’s quite good actually. I’m in my supported living after the crap that went on with my ex- and the placement for my rehab. But yeah, luckily for me my key worker stuck by me. Yeah, I was in there and that was going well. I went in there October, so that’s six months in. … More Tony says: “… coming here I call it work and probably a safe haven…”

Greg says: “We all make mistakes, and we all learn from them eventually. Some learn a bit quicker than others, but we all learn from them.”

“My YOT worker brought me out here the first time. I thought it would be a bit more boring to be fair. I thought it would be a lot more boring than what it is. That’s the positive side of it. It’s a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be, which … More Greg says: “We all make mistakes, and we all learn from them eventually. Some learn a bit quicker than others, but we all learn from them.”

Joshua says: “It’s all being part of an acceptance … me feeling accepted and me accepting other people. It’s a two-way thing”

“This journey at the moment it’s not just about my recovery and with abstinence, but it’s also about my recovery into society to kind of find some faith and confidence in society and a confidence in myself, and that I’m able to do it to become a part of it. Yes, I’ve done a few … More Joshua says: “It’s all being part of an acceptance … me feeling accepted and me accepting other people. It’s a two-way thing”

Mark says: “It’s just kept me out of trouble. It keeps me on the straight and narrow really.”

“I just work now. That’s it really. Come here. Do my snizzel. Play around in the workshop. Build a load of random things for random reasons. Yeah, I’m quite happy then. I don’t know why I decided I wanted to build a pool cue box, but yeah, I built a pool cue box. I made … More Mark says: “It’s just kept me out of trouble. It keeps me on the straight and narrow really.”

Dave says: “It’s very social. It’s not anti-social. I like that. I’ve had too much anti-social in my life…”

“I’ve never been to a place like this before. I kind of ask [myself] will I fit in, settle in. I like everyone here, everyone’s as good as gold here. Everyone respects each other. As soon as you walk through that gate, you’re like a whole new person. It’s like just coming to work with … More Dave says: “It’s very social. It’s not anti-social. I like that. I’ve had too much anti-social in my life…”

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”