Last Friday was the 15th of May 2015. Right now you’re probably thinking “uh derrr – and your point is?”.
If we write that differently it’s 15/5/15 – nice numbers huh!
On the way to a meeting that morning I heard it being discussed on the radio where it was pointed to as having significant numerological significance and being a very powerful day when important things would happen.
For me, that was spot on, as the meeting was to discuss a new business I’m part of, that I believe has huge potential – but more on that another time. (Here’s a hint – if you want to discuss how to get your database cleaned up and turned into the powerful marketing tool it’s supposed to be then let’s talk.)
So I was pleased to hear that the day was being acknowledged as being very important – especially as it was also my birthday – now that’s something significant.
For me it was an excellent day: the meeting didn’t go quite as I hoped but it’s still a work in progress and it was followed by a long lunch culminating in a new chocolate cafe in Chatswood – so that made everything alright.
(For me there are 3 major food groups: Chocolate, Chili and Cheese – everything else is just filler. Lunch was a 3 cheese melt followed by a very impressive chocolate dessert. So I was very happy with our choice for a birthday meal.)
A couple of weeks ago, in this blog, I suggested a new business idea – LooBer.
Here’s another – Chocolate Chatswood. It’s an annual festival of chocolate incorporating the various chocolate outlets around Chatswood – has to be a winner. How do I propose it to the local council?
Anyway, moving right along…
Reducing Prisoner Recidivism
For some time I’ve been talking about a way to reduce prisoner recidivism (ie people returning to prison after completing their sentence) by teaching people entrepreneurial skills.
In a nutshell it gives people who are in prison skills which will enable them to set up businesses when they are released.
The problem
People end up in prison because they’ve crossed some societal boundary – they see things differently. (Richard Branson stated that his school principal told him he would either be a millionaire or he’d go to prison. If fact he did end up in prison for a very short time.)
While in prison they have the opportunity to do vocational studies in order to improve themselves and their chances of getting a job on their release.
Once they get out of prison they can’t get a job, even though they have qualifications because:
- They don’t have any real experience in the field they’ve studied
- They have a prison record
Because they can’t get a job, they end up back within the same social circles, society and family groups where they were before and end up re-offending, often having acquired less desirable skills and connections in prison and so continue on the downward spiral ending up back in prison.
My solution
In addition to teaching vocational skills we should teach entrepreneurial skills, so these people are able to set up their own businesses rather than be dependent on others to employ them.
Because they’ve been through the prison system they’re more likely to understand the challenges ex-convicts face and would be willing to provide jobs for others with similar experiences to their own – a bit like military veterans hanging out and supporting each other.
Thus, this program would have a noticeable ripple effect with potential to reduce the costs of prisons, the legal industry and social services.
The program
The program is based on one I developed called Transition To Small Business for people who were leaving the corporate world and were looking to go into small business.
The intention is to teach some core business skills and provide mentoring and financial support to people who meet the criteria are are wanting to establish their own businesses.
The response
I presented the idea to the NSW Attorney General, Greg Smith in 2011.
There were a number of ‘highlights’ from that meeting:
- No-one had come up with anything like it before – that suggested to me it was a novel idea and therefore had potential
- The people I was looking to work with were all on methodone programs
- Misson Australia was responsible for all vocational programs within NSW prisons and he’d introduce me to the head of Misson Australia – he didn’t
Following that meeting I met a gentleman who’s business was helping organisations deal with government agencies.
He was an ex government minister.
He told me that the whole purpose of government and the public service is “to do nothing”.
Since that time I’ve raised the idea with a number of people in relevant places: Mission Australia, Queensland Prison Service and even entrepreneurs in an attempt to enroll them into the idea.
So far – nothing.
Indeed, in an attempt to discuss it with one very successful entrepreneur, who I believe would be very aligned with the idea, I was blocked by his gate keepers and told it would cost $1,000 to meet him.
Another person I told about it responded “teaching people how to sell more drugs – it’ll never get support”.
Why now?
So why am I bringing this up now?
I’ve just come across an interview with Richard Branson at TEDxIronwoodStatePrison talking about some similar programs that are being developed at Ironwood State Prison in California.
Maybe, following the significance of last Friday’s date, it’s an idea who’s time has come 😉