Mick says: “I like coming here – I feel a sense of peace. I feel at peace now…”

“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…”

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…”

“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…”

Cassandra says: “It’s been a long journey. I mean the hard part was getting to here and the rest of it now is maintenance.”

“Since being at LandWorks I think I now know who I am … a general direction, you know, I don’t have a job yet, but I know where I’m heading, and confidence. I’m definitely more confident. I’m trying to think of the right words … yeah, I guess it’s helped me help myself a bit, … More Cassandra says: “It’s been a long journey. I mean the hard part was getting to here and the rest of it now is maintenance.”

Anthony says: “this place is really helping me to get back into normal living…”

“Well, you know Gabriel from probation, he was trying to find me something to do, spill the time, you know. I’m not actually being employed at the moment and too much time on my hands and at the time I was in a toxic relationship… When I was in before Christmas, she was still using … More Anthony says: “this place is really helping me to get back into normal living…”

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…”

Dave says: “A lot of it is to do with trust…”

“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…”

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.”