In a bid to reduce reoffending rates and tackle the UK construction industry’s growing skills shortage, top-10 housebuilder Keepmoat has partnered with Strata and HMP Lindholme in Doncaster to launch a brand-new woodworking workshop.
The purpose-built joinery hub is designed to equip prisoners with practical woodworking and employability skills before their release. By teaching them a hands-on trade, organisers hope the project will build self-confidence and significantly improve their chances of securing stable employment when they return to the community.
Through the joint partnership, offenders will gain real carpentry experience by crafting a range of wooden items, such as planters, bird boxes, and bug boxes, which will be donated to local schools and community groups across Yorkshire. Beyond manual trade skills, those on the programme will develop critical, transferable workplace habits including teamwork, time management, and proactive communication.
Shaun Mycroft, Governor at HMP Lindholme, commented: “At HMP Lindholme, our priority is to equip the men in our care with the skills, behaviours and confidence they need to build stable, productive lives on release and, ultimately, to reduce reoffending and protect the public.
“By collaborating with Keepmoat and Strata, we are able to provide high-quality, real-world training that reflects the needs of local employers and the wider economy. We know that sustainable employment is one of the most significant factors in reducing reoffending. Initiatives like this play a key role in helping individuals turn their lives around, while also supporting safer communities across Yorkshire.”
According to research from the Ministry of Justice, securing stable work upon release dramatically cuts the likelihood of an individual reoffending.
Ciaran Aldridge, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, Yorkshire East, said: “Meaningful employment can play a huge role in helping people rebuild their lives after prison. This new woodworking hub provides prisoners with practical, hands-on experience while also helping them develop confidence, discipline and transferable skills that employers are looking for. Supporting initiatives like this is about giving people a genuine second chance while helping to develop future talent and skills.”
Mark Leaf, Chief Growth Officer at Strata, shared similar pride in the project’s launch: “Providing hands-on, practical training means people leave with something tangible to offer employers. Supporting individuals to make the most of a second chance and helping to reduce reoffending is something we are incredibly proud to be part of.”
To find out more about Keepmoat’s community development programs, visit the homebuilder’s official website at www.keepmoat.com.
