Working Chance is the UK’s only employment charity exclusively for women who have convictions. They help women to develop the confidence, skills, and self-belief to get into work or education. They partner with over 110 employers across England and Wales to match women with the right opportunities. Their latest report, Progress and Prejudice, explored employer […]
Why using a “sample policy on recruiting ex-offenders” is bad for business
“How do you deal with applicants with a criminal record?” That’s a common question we ask of employers. The answer varies; sometimes, they’re quite proactive; other times, they don’t really know. Often, we’re pointed to their ‘policy’. Great, you might think. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of employers with a policy in place have simply copied […]
Recruiting with conviction at a time of national crisis
As the coronavirus spreads in the UK and government advice means millions of people are staying home to stay safe, there is an urgent need for people to help with key roles. The NHS are looking for 250,000 volunteers, while social care providers, supermarkets and other essential services are boosting their workforce. We’ve been contacted […]
Guest blog: Bloomsbury Institute becomes the first higher education institute to Ban the Box for staff and students
Bloomsbury Institute London (formerly the London School of Business and Management) has become the first higher education institute in the UK to Ban the Box for students and staff. Founded in 2002, Bloomsbury Institute is built around an academic community that values diversity, curiosity and hard work and they dedicated to welcoming anyone who has […]
The answer to Oxfam’s safeguarding problems is not enhanced DBS checks
Christopher Stacey, co-director of Unlock, has written a blog for the Huffington Post questioning the use of enhanced DBS checks as the answer to Oxfam’s safeguarding problems. The blog is particularly important for organisations that use volunteers in their work, and is copied below. The original blog is available here. Of all the things in the […]