A PIONEERING rehabilitation project for violent offenders is poised to expand across Scotland, The National has learned.
Street food social enterprise Street & Arrow, set up by an arm of Police Scotland, employs those with a history of offending or at risk of committing crime.
Participants pledge to stay clear of drink, drugs and violence – and can lose their traineeships if they break the vow. Those who complete the paid 12-month placement leave with qualifications, work experience and key life skills.
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A trial run in 2012 led to the establishment of a permanent venture – aimed at slashing reoffending rates – two years ago.
Part of Braveheart Industries, a social enterprise offshoot of the specialist Violence Reduction Unit, it is currently operating from one site in Mansfield Park.
Nine people are currently on staff at the unit in Glasgow’s Partick area.
However, it is now poised for a significant expansion, with talks taking place between scheme leaders and local authorities in target areas.
North Ayrshire Council has confirmed talks have begun, while project leaders are also understood to have been in contact with authorities in Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire.
In each case, staff would be drawn from local communities to provide routes into employment and remove barriers to participation.
Meanwhile, organisers are also seeking to relocate to a “more lucrative location” in Glasgow within the “next couple of months”.
Inspector Iain Murray, who is the Street & Arrow project lead, said: “I’m hopeful we will be getting some positive news soon. I hope this year to treble our workforce. We want to always employ trainees from the local area. It needs to be easily accessible to make sure getting there is not a barrier to participating.
“It’s not all about business, it’s about business and our programme working hand in hand.”
Read more about Street & Arrow on pages 20-21...
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