Inmates helped to quit crime

Three businesswomen have taken on one of the toughest challenges of their careers - to teach prisoners how to avoid crime on their release.
Amanda Murrell and Gillian Ormston outside Bedford Prison. PNL-160903-125051001Amanda Murrell and Gillian Ormston outside Bedford Prison. PNL-160903-125051001
Amanda Murrell and Gillian Ormston outside Bedford Prison. PNL-160903-125051001

Amanda Murrell, Gillian Ormston and Jacqueline Jardine are running a five-week course for male inmates at HMP Bedford, covering topics such as anger management, finances and maintaining relationships.

Amanda, of Bedford’s Amanda Murrell Associates Ltd, said: “Our aim is by working with offenders on their attitudes, thinking and behaviour, we try to break the cycle of reoffending that they are trapped in, and help them to discover their potential in order to improve their own lives and the lives of others.”

Gillian, of Double Trouble Development, in Ridgmont, and Jacqueline, of Jardine-White Consulting Ltd, in Cotton End, are also coaching offenders through The On My Way Empowerment Programme, which aims to address their attitudes, thinking and behaviours to break patterns of re-offending.

Gillian said: “A great many individuals we work with have not had the attention and level of support they need to help them make better life choices. OMW helps offenders to identify solutions to the challenges they face to get back on track.”