“Criminally Good Bakes” *: The Mouthwatering Taste of Social Re-inclusion

By Isabel Gallacher

Reporting from Oxford, UK

Founded in 2022, Proof Social Bakehouse in Kennington is doing more than just satisfying the cravings of Oxfordshire- it is providing prisoners on day release and those who have recently been released from prison with an inclusive workplace where they are able to develop life-long skills. The bakehouse is part of a wider initiative called Tap Social Movement that is transforming the lives of hundreds of prisoners, both current and former, by offering them paid training, workshops and employment opportunities.  

Recent studies have shown that in the UK, 42% of adult prisoners reoffend within a year of release (Bromley Briefings, 2023). The rate is even higher for those who were sentenced to less than 12 months in prison: 59% find themselves caught in the brutal revolving door of prison (Bromley Briefings, 2023). The reasons behind these worrying statistics include a lack of support following prison release and a hesitancy to hire those with a criminal conviction. Proof Social Bakehouse seeks to put an end to what it describes as the “criminal justice system’s double punishment” (Proof Social Bakehouse, 2024) in its creation of a workplace that prides itself on diversity, inclusion and the belief that everyone deserves another chance in life.  

The 2024 general election has brought the precarious state of our prisons to the fore: “As of July 5, England and Wales had 87,453 prisoners - up from 86,035 a year earlier and within a whisker of what prison governors see as a maximum capacity of 88,864” (Reuters, 2024). Due to the threat of overcrowding, prison governors have announced plans that could see the release of “low-level offenders” up to seventy days before initially planned (BBC, 2024).  When released, certain prisoners qualify for a Subsistence Payment of £89.52 (Prison Reform Trust Bromley Briefings, February 2024). Although this discharge grant is the highest it has been in 26 years (Prison Reform Trust Bromley Briefings, February 2024), it is still not enough to help someone rebuild their life. As a result, the creation of and investment in initiatives such as Proof Social Bakehouse which offer former prisoners support, training and employment, thereby reducing the likelihood of reoffending, have never been more important.  

With Kier Starmer’s appointment of James Timpson (the former CEO of Timpson Group, one of the largest employers of ex-offenders- approximately 10% of their workforce have spent time in prison (The Timpson Foundation, 2024)) as the Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, it is hoped that positive change will happen.  

But it is not just those in power who can make a difference. To those in Oxfordshire, next time you are craving a coffee or a pastry, head to Proof Social Bakehouse. Not only will their products tantalise your taste buds, but they will also fill you with the heartwarming knowledge that your purchase is boosting the self-esteem of someone who is working hard to get their life back on track. After all, what better taste than the taste of social justice?  

 

 

*Credit: Proof Social Bakehouse