Rehabilitation the co‑operative way: New Leaf Co‑op
The New Leaf Initiative is a Birmingham-based mentoring organisation that supports people with criminal convictions to find work.
“We help them with the whole journey of desistance [abstaining from crime] and healing. We’ll support anyone regardless of how serious their offence – as long as they’re motivated to try something new,” says CEO Marie-Claire O’Brien.
“If we want to reduce offending, we have to give those with serious previous offences an opportunity. If you’re shunned by a society that disrespects you, you’re more likely to reoffend. You’re less likely to do so if you’re given opportunities and the chance to contribute,” she explains.
In New Leaf’s six years, it has supported almost 600 people – and achieved impressive results. Last year, 78% of service users went into education or training. And 40% found work. Government figures show that only 17%* of ex-offenders manage to get a job within a year of release, so it’s clear that New Leaf is having a positive impact in the West Midlands.
Still, Marie-Claire was concerned about the other 60% of service users unable to find work. “They’re deemed unemployable and considered too risky by employers because of the nature of their previous offences,” she explains.
This was why she decided to form a co-op. “I had a lightbulb moment – we could create a co‑operative to employ those people directly and give them ownership.” And so, the New Leaf Co‑op was born.
Recently incorporated, it’s a sister organisation to the New Leaf Initiative – a co-op. Its business plan is to bid for construction, cleaning, property maintenance, computer coding and call centre contracts – and fulfil those contracts by employing the people they train, mentor and coach.
After a probationary period, those employed by the agency are offered the chance to become a member, which gives them a say in how the business is run – as well as a share in the profits.
Thanks to The Hive’s support, Marie-Claire and her colleagues successfully navigated the legalities of setting up a co-op – and gained essential understanding of co-operative governance. “Learning how we engage people democratically and give them ownership and accountability was a new field of knowledge for me,” she says.
“The Hive organised mentoring support for us with another co-op – from Karen Creavin at the Active Wellbeing Society. It has also helped us understand co-op values and given us the knowledge of what it means to be a co-op.”
It’s early days for the New Leaf Co-op but already it’s Marie-Claire’s ambition for it to support ex‑offenders in other areas too. “We want to prove the model in the West Midlands first, then take it further afield. We’re passionate about giving people opportunities and, thanks to the Hive’s support, we can continue to offer more opportunities to help reduce re-offending.”
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*Source: Ministry of Justice: Employing prisoners and ex-offenders
