How Raw Talent is being brought into kitchens...

Author

Esther Champion
May 21, 2025

Welcome to our third edition of the Myrtos Newsletter (if you have any suggestions for a catchier title, please let me know) where we’ll be sharing Myrtos’ business of the month, what we’ve been up to- it’s been an encouraging and busy time, and a reminder about an upcoming event. Firstly though, the final instalment of how Esther ended up founding Myrtos Consultancy.

A Journey Through Criminal Justice and Change

Leaving the prison service, I embarked on a year in Colombia, living with a local family and volunteering. With barely any Spanish, I spent two intense months learning before diving into work; teaching English to University students and completely unrelated to criminal justice. Did I miss it? In some ways, but cycling around Bogotá kept me on my toes enough!

Returning to the UK, uncertain of my next steps, I became an Employment Consultant, where I saw first hand the barriers faced by those with a criminal record in securing work. Soon after, I found myself back in the Probation Service, this time in Approved Premises, supporting men deemed higher risk after release. I worked night shifts, experienced the realities of addiction, mental health struggles, and reoffending, but also moments of progress, community, and endless late-night cups of coffee.

During this time, I started volunteering for Sixty-One as a mentor, which provided more experience working in the community with men and women who had a criminal record. After a year, I was offered a role on Sixty-One’s mentoring project, taking me back into the prison estate, the place where this journey began. The reality of seeing familiar faces returning to prison reinforced the need for meaningful rehabilitation.

Nine years later, I’m still deeply rooted in criminal justice, leading Sixty-One’s work and running my consultancy. There have been tough moments, but witnessing lives change keeps me going.

One of my fondest memories? A man in HMP Bristol joyfully exclaiming, “I’ve got socks!” as he opened his Christmas gift bag, a project run by Sixty-One. Thick, warm socks, a small but powerful reminder that simple gestures matter. So next time you’re considering what to get someone for Christmas, remember the joy that a thick pair of socks can bring.

Even in Colombia there was a piece of home

Business showcase; which business has impressed us this month…

Cook, the ethical frozen food business has employed almost 250 prison leavers in the past decade through its Raw Talent Programme. It works closely with prisons, The Probation Service, and Homeless charities to provide employment to those who face barriers. Hiring people to work in their kitchens and shops, the RAW talent scheme makes up about 5% of their workforce. Rosie Brown, Co-CEO says that, “There’s great talent in prison, and great people. There’s a lot of trauma and difficult backgrounds and difficult lives that have led people into prison in the first place. The rates of reoffending are too high, and employment is the best way to stop [that]. So it’s great for society. It’s great for communities. It’s great for everybody, if we can do this.”

Whilst there are no official stats regarding reoffending rates of those who gain employment from prison through the RAW Talent Programme, when we spoke to the former Social Value Manager, Annie Gale, she said that the majority of prison leavers who came through their course successfully reintegrated into society, remaining free from a life of crime.

If you want to know more about the Raw Talent Programme click here

What we have been up to recently…

  • We’re thrilled to share that we recently recorded a training video for faculty staff at Westminster Theological Centre. They are currently piloting a Kingdom Theology course inside HMP The Mount,, and our video will ensure they step into the prison environment with confidence and insight. The course enables participants to achieve a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Kingdom Theology. This qualification isn’t just academic, it’s a stepping stone to continued study upon release, a powerful factor in reducing reoffending rates. More information about this programme can be found here

  • Collaborations are something that we enjoy being part of, especially when we get to go back to the place where our love of criminal justice was born. Myrtos and HMP Bristol have put together a half-day showcase focusing on the hospitality industry to celebrate the launch of The Key Café on Gloucester Road, Bristol, which mainly hires people who are prison leavers. The hope it to highlight the incredible talent within the prison walls, and encourage more hospitality businesses to hire prison leavers. When: June 18th, 9.30-1- for more info contact [email protected]- tell your friends!

  • We recently spent 2 weeks back in Sussex looking after a family dog and doing school picks up of a younger family member. It reminded me how important family connections are and the value of investing in them. It is no different in the Justice System. For many people in prison, staying connected with family can be challenging and a staggering 45% lose contact with loved ones during their sentence. Yet, research shows that maintaining these relationships can make a profound difference, reducing reoffending rates by 39%. This goes to show the importance of maintaining family bonds (where they are appropriate and healthy to do so)

  • Exciting developments ahead! We're hard at work delivering high-impact consultancy, writing expert-led training designed to support Care-leavers. Soon, we'll be bringing this much needed program to both Bristol City Council and a leading Construction company. Even more exciting? The course is designed for adaptability; its powerful insights can also benefit prison-leavers, ensuring broader access to vital support. Stay tuned for updates!

The daft dog I was looking after and the bringer of lots of joy

And finally, it’s not too late to sign up to our Dispelling Fears and Misconceptions Workshop on May 30th, 12.30-1.30, online. We’ll be exploring our perceptions towards people who have a criminal record, improving our understanding of why people commit crime and reoffend, and considering key stats in relation to the criminal justice system and employment. For more information and to book on follow this link

If you have any questions, feedback, or criminal justice items you’d like us to cover, then do get in touch and let us know.

Until next time, don’t delay in increasing your inclusive work practices today…