E-scooter company helping to break the cycle of re-offending
Sam, on a Key4Life work taster with Voi. Credit: Voi
An ex-offender was given the opportunity to learn valuable work skills on a three-day placement with e-scooter company Voi, arranged by crime prevention charity Key4Life.
Sam, 31, spent three days working with Voi’s Bristol team, assisting with servicing e-scooters and replacing batteries.
He was selected for a three day Work Taster following an interview with Voi fleet manager Damien Shiel at a Meet the Employer workshop hosted by Key4Life.
Key4Life runs 7-step rehabilitation programmes for young men in prison or at risk of going to prison.
A core element of these programmes is employability training to prepare the men for work and help them to get jobs.
“I was very impressed by Sam’s answers and attitude during the interview and wanted to give him the opportunity to get some work experience with our warehouse mechanics and fleet team who fix and check e-scooters around the city,” said Damien.
“I’ve been working with Key4Life for three years now and we’ve been really pleased to give permanent jobs to participants over that time.
“It’s been a great way for Voi to give something back to the community we operate in and if we’ve helped just one young offender get back onto the straight and narrow then it’s all worth it.
Sam said: “Work tasters arranged by Key4Life are such a great idea because they give ex-offenders useful experience such as having to get up and get to a job on time, meet new people and learn valuable work skills.
“I’m very grateful to Voi and Key4Life for giving me this opportunity.”
Sam is now training to work as a key mentor with Key4Life.
Eva Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Key4Life, said: “Getting a good job is the glue that keeps these young men away from a life of crime. And yet research shows that 50% of corporate Britain would not hire ex-offenders.
“However, employing ex-offenders is an opportunity to do right for the local community and helps to remove unfair prejudice. Likewise businesses stand to benefit by extending employment opportunities to a broader candidate pool of untapped talent.”
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Juliette Maxam, Senior PR manager, Voi UK, Ireland and France
juliette.maxam@voiapp.io
About Voi
Founded in 2018, Voi is a Swedish micromobility company offering e-scooter and e-bike sharing in partnership with towns, cities and local communities. We believe e-scooters can play a central role in changing how people move in our towns and cities in the future. We want to ensure that the micromobility transformation happens the right way - through real innovative technology, open and transparent dialogue with towns, cities and governments and by adapting our products to local needs. Voi’s holistic Environmental Action Plan tackles emissions and promotes renewable energy use and circularity along its supply chain.
Voi operates in over 100 towns and cities across 12 countries. It is headquartered in Stockholm and employs 1,000 people. To date, Voi boasts more than seven million riders and has served more than 150+ million rides.
About Key4Life
Founded in 2012, over the last 11 years, Key4Life has helped turn around the lives of over 700 young men in prison and at risk of going to prison, and reached over 7000 children through their schools and community work.
With an unrivalled track record, a minimum of 64% of Key4Life’s graduates are gainfully employed (versus a government rate of 15%), and the charity’s reoffending rate is a maximum of 14% compared to a government figure of 64%.
In addition to employability training, other key elements of Key4Life’s innovative 7 step model include equine and music therapy, football sessions with QPR, emotional release work and mentoring.
With reoffending costing the UK £18.1 Billion a year (Newton, et al., 2019), the cost of putting one participant through the Key4Life programme is £5,000 versus the average annual cost of a prison place in England and Wales of £37,000.
Independent research by Bean Research shows £13.46 of social value is generated for every £1 spent on Key4Life.
Key4Life is targeting businesses to offer apprenticeships, workshops, training and/or jobs to young people who have offending backgrounds.
Work Tasters, carefully pre-screened and co-ordinated by Key4Life, are a low-risk trial to meet talented people who are ex-offenders in a low-risk way, while giving them a chance for a new start.
Over 90 businesses support Key4Life across a range of sectors including hospitality, insurance and construction.
