Latest news

Now open for business in Oxford, Windsor & Maidenhead - read more
Read Blue Sky’s newsletter Summer 2010 - click here
Blue Sky perfectly placed to deliver Clarke’s ‘rehabilitation revolution’ - read more
Blue Sky in launch of flagship London Probation project - read more
Blue Sky wins top national award - read more
Jonathan Aitken and Erwin James become Patrons - read more
Home Secretary visits Blue Sky - read more
Praise for Blue Sky in Parliament - read more
Blue Sky contributes to the National Skills Forum report "Doing things differently: Step changes in skills and inclusion" - download the report here
2009 Annual Review now available - download the PDF by clicking here or request a hard copy by clicking here
Blue Sky shortlisted as Parliament’s 'Charity of the Year' - read more
Blue Sky invites tenders regarding the suitability of its model for catering - read more
Blue Sky is nominated for Award for Tackling Worklessness - read more
Centre for Social Justice honours Blue Sky - read more
Blue Sky in Manchester wins the Spark challenge - read more
Industry accreditations gained with Constructionline and Exor - read more
362 tonnes recycled in six months - read more
Latest training results now available - read more
Construction training course offered to young people - read more
Blue Sky takes on 150th employee - read more
Blue Sky is shortlisted for an award from the Centre for Social Justice - read more
Blue Sky wins place on social enterprise support programme - read more
David Cameron cites Blue Sky as exemplar of best practice - read more
Blue Sky team member sets up website to help other ex-offenders - read more
Blue Sky takes up housing association contract in Bristol. - read more
Blue Sky starts work on recycling contract in Harefield. - read more

Press information available here

Now open for business in Oxford, Windsor & Maidenhead

Supported by the Future Jobs Fund, Blue Sky’s reach continues to extend around the country.

In May this year the company started work in Oxford on a contract with Oxford City Council to maintain 60 parks in and around the city, including clearance work and assisting tree surgeons.

In July work began on a new contract with the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to improve and maintain the parks and green spaces.

Frank Hough, Blue Sky's Employment and Training Manager said, "We are delighted that we have been able employ even more ex-offenders to do work that reflects directly back into the community by delivering a quality service for public spaces."

Blue Sky perfectly placed to deliver Clarke’s ‘rehabilitation revolution’

Blue Sky welcomes the commitments made by Justice Minister, Kenneth Clarke, in his first keynote speech on Criminal Justice reform, delivered at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at the end of June. Mr Clarke is calling for a "rehabilitation revolution" for ex-offenders. Mr Clarke said that he wanted to involve the voluntary and private sectors in programmes to change offenders inside and outside prison, and to pay them by results. Success would be measured by whether or not they are reconvicted within the first few years of leaving prison.

Mr Clarke wants to examine alternatives to prison, saying: "I take a very practical approach. What I want to use the taxpayers' money for is results. The real challenge, if you are faced with a difficult, inadequate, not very nice person, is to try to make sure that he does not commit another criminal offence. By whatever reasonable method you use, if you succeed in ensuring that he does not commit another criminal offence for a year, or two years, or three years, I suggest we pay for that."

Blue Sky is perfectly placed to deliver Clarke’s ‘rehabilitation revolution’ with an intelligent and effective use of taxpayers’ money. Over the 5 years since it was set up, Blue Sky has employed nearly 300 ex-offenders - greater than the entire inmate population of some of Britain's prisons. And of these, less than 15% have re-offended - that's a quarter of the national average.

Both the Times and Guardian newspapers published articles by Blue Sky’s patrons in response to the Justice Minister’s speech.

Jonathan Aitken said in The Times, “I am immensely proud of what Blue Sky is achieving. I know that Mr Clarke is right to be enlarging the work of rehabilitation beyond the bureaucratic jobsworths of offender management service and into the hands-on world of gritty, grotty but real employment of ex-cons.”

Erwin James said in the Guardian newspaper, "Clarke says he wants to work in partnership with the voluntary and private sectors to "rehouse, rehabilitate and find work for released prisoners, with bodies only paid if their efforts lead to a significant fall in reoffending". This is wonderful news, and I would like to recommend one such body that has an unassailable track record.

Blue Sky Development & Regeneration, a not-for-profit company that gives paid work to people coming out of prison and helps them move into long-term employment, recently won the award for Social Care and Welfare at the national Charity Awards. And no wonder. In the five years since it was set up, Blue Sky has provided employment for nearly 300 ex-offenders, the population of an average regional prison. Every Blue Sky team member is offered training for when they eventually leave the company, in literacy and numeracy, construction work or environmental management. And guess what? The reoffending rate for former Blue Sky workers is just 15%."

Blue Sky in launch of flagship London Probation project

Blue Sky is part of the launch of a new project to help London ex-offenders move into sustainable employment. Blue Sky is one of the partner organisations in the project, called PIANO (Providing Innovation and New Opportunities). It is led by London Probation and funded by the National Offender Management Service and the European Social Fund. Blue Sky will provide mentoring, training and advice as well as employment opportunities to ex-offenders. For more information, please contact Alex Jacobs, Blue Sky’s PIANO Project Manager on 01895 832662 or email alex.jacobs@blueskydevelopment.org.uk.

Blue Sky wins top national award

Blue Sky Development & Regeneration has won one of the most prestigious accolades to be awarded in the UK charity sector at The Charity Awards 2010.

Blue Sky beat three other shortlisted charities to pick up the award in the Social Care and Welfare category at the ceremony in London.

Daniel Phelan, organiser of the Charity Awards 2010 commented:

“What the winning charities all have in common is their ability to turn innovation, passion and vision into an effective project or organisation demonstrating considerable impact. It’s vital that we acknowledge these achievements, which is why I’m delighted Blue Sky Development and Regeneration has won the Social Care and Welfare award. It is a fantastic organisation and the award is thoroughly deserved. I congratulate everyone involved.”

Blue Sky’s Contract Manager Steve Finn collected the award at a gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in front of 1,000 of the charity world’s most senior representatives and celebrity guests including Jo Brand, Greta Scacchi, Lynda Bellingham, Jon Snow and Peter Bowles, who presented awards in 10 separate categories.

Mick May, Founder and CEO of Blue Sky, said:

"The Blue Sky team is just thrilled to be honoured in this way, and would like to thank the sponsors and judges of this award. We are proud that over the 5 years since it was set up, Blue Sky has employed nearly 300 ex-offenders - that's greater than the entire inmate population of some of Britain's prisons. And of these, less than 15% have re-offended - that's a quarter of the national average."

The distinguished panel of judges included John Low CBE, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, Maeve Sherlock OBE, former chief executive of the Refugee Council, Dame Jo Williams, former chief executive of Mencap, Paul Winter, chief executive of The Leadership Trust, and Dame Mary Marsh, founding Director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme and former Chief Executive of the NSPCC. The winning charities are chosen for specific initiatives which have improved the delivery of their charitable objectives and which demonstrate outstanding examples of best practice from which other charities can learn.

The Charity Awards is sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation, The Leadership Trust and The Times.
http://www.charityawards.co.uk/home/category.php?pg=1&cat=11&yr=14#Blue Sky742

To see Blue Sky’s Steve Finn’s acceptance speech, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxLmcvupKKM&feature=related

Jonathan Aitken and Erwin James become Patrons

Blue Sky is delighted that Jonathan Aitken and Erwin James have agreed to become its first patrons.

Jonathan Aitken is the author, broadcaster and campaigner for prison reform, who has been a Cabinet Minister and ex-prisoner. Erwin James works to inform the debate on how our society uses imprisonment through his writing and speaking, as an ex-offender and journalist.

Jonathan Aitken said, “Blue Sky is an outstanding example of the practical and successful rehabilitation of ex-offenders. It is blazing a trail for giving individuals a fresh start, making communities safer and reducing reoffending. I am delighted to be one of Blue Sky’s first patrons.”

Erwin James said, "Blue Sky has demonstrated unequivocally that people coming out of prison can and do make worthy employees. On a recent visit to a number of Blue Sky projects I met with some of the workers and team leaders and came away feeling even more proud and privileged to be associated with Blue Sky as a patron. The wonderful success at the Charity Awards is much deserved and I wish all at Blue Sky courage and strength in their determination to ensure that this model of excellence continues to thrive."

Mick May, Blue Sky’s founder and Chief Executive said, “We are absolutely delighted that Jonathan and Erwin have agreed to join us as patrons. Their unique insights and experience will enrich our team and will make us more effective in helping individuals and addressing national issues.”

Home Secretary visits Blue Sky

In April 2010, the then Home Secretary Alan Johnson said, “You can just see the self-esteem and confidence beaming out of the Blue Sky team.”

Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP and Rt Hon Fiona Mactaggart, MP for Slough, were paying a visit to Blue Sky’s team in Slough. The Blue Sky team of ex-offenders are working on a grounds maintenance contract with Slough Enterprise. The MPs visited the Blue Sky team, who are improving the grounds of a block of flats in Priory Road in Langley Ward.

Andrea McCubbin, Blue Sky’s General Manager, said, “We are delighted to welcome the Home Secretary today. It is very encouraging to find that the effectiveness of Blue Sky’s work is being recognised.”

The former Home Secretary said, “Blue Sky is about ensuring ex-offenders don’t get onto the treadmill of reoffending, and back in prison. The team members have got a job to do, it’s lifting their self-esteem, ensuring they finish the day feeling they’ve achieved something. It’s breaking down the barriers that stop them getting them back into society, and stopping them reoffending.”

He added, "The whole point of Blue Sky is to ensure that ex-offenders don’t slip back into the life that got them into prison in the first place. With Blue Sky they get the work and they actually become more included in society.”

Blue Sky successfully bid for money from the Future Jobs Fund, which will enable 66 more ex-offenders to be in work.

The former Home Secretary said, “With the Future Jobs Fund we are raising money … to ensure 18-24-year-olds are not unemployed for more than six months. It is working really well.”

Mr Johnson was interested to hear about the training and support given by Blue Sky to help its employees back into sustainable employment. He spent time chatting to the Blue Sky team members, including Employment Liaison Manager, Frank Hough, Team Supervisor Alistair MacCuish and Team Member, Damian Hanson.

The group was later joined by Mr Peter Dale-Gough, Conservative councillor for Langley Ward, and Ms Anna Wright, political assistant to Diana Coad, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Slough.

Mike Chiyangwa, one of the Blue Sky team, concluded: “if there were more opportunities like this, it would be great. Blue Sky is absolutely amazing. It helps with social skills, it teaches a good work ethic and pushes you in the right direction.”

Praise for Blue Sky in Parliament

Third Sector Minister Angela Smith MP recently held a lengthy debate in Parliament, on ways to assist communities and third sector organisations through the recession.

During the session, Conservative Third Sector Shadow Nick Hurd MP praised the work of Blue Sky, saying:

"I am sure that we all have our favourite organisations. I am continually inspired by a social enterprise on the edge of my constituency called Blue Sky, which is the only company in the country where someone has to have a criminal record to work there. It does extraordinary work in helping prisoners to work, under contract to Hillingdon council, so that they can prove to a future employer that they can be trusted. It is a critical stepping stone on the journey off the reoffending cycle. That solution works and could be replicated elsewhere if other local authorities contracted on the same model. At the moment, an important political consensus is being developed that we need to try to create more space to allow those kinds of organisations to do their magic."

You can read the debate here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100311/halltext/100311h0005.htm

You can also watch the debate online until 8th April 2010 in the archive section here, using the date (11 March 2010) time (2.30pm) and location (Westminster Hall) to id the appropriate session:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Archive.aspx

Blue Sky shortlisted as 'Charity of the Year'

Blue Sky is honoured that Iain Duncan Smith MP has nominated Blue Sky as 'Charity of the Year' in Parliament's Charity Champions Awards. The other two finalists are "Voluntary Service Overseas" and "Grandparents Trust". The DODS Charity Champion Awards offer recognition for work in voluntary sector. The winner will be announced on 8 December 2009.

Blue Sky's Nomination reads:

By running a social enterprise, with a supportive management structure and proven results at a competitive price, Blue Sky provides employment to ex-offenders and takes a huge element of the 'risk' out of employing them that other contracting agencies would be unwilling or unable to carry.

Blue Sky has reduced reoffending by 87%. Of 150 clients, 55% went on to sustainable employment (DWP definition) and 44% to employment or further education. Ex-prisioners are given a vital lifeline by providing employment and opportunity to gain new skills. This fosters hope for a future without re-offending. The personalised support and on-the-job mentoring offered by Blue Sky is a key ingredient in their success. The simplicity of their model, the focus on using 'employment' as the central theme to engage those at risk of re-offending, and their ability to address wider issues and root causes through mentoring, housing support and other personal support makes Blue Sky stand out as "Charity of the Year".

Blue Sky invites tenders regarding the suitability of its model for catering

Blue Sky is inviting tenders to produce an options appraisal into the suitability of the Blue Sky model for the catering business.
Please click here to see the tender specification.

Blue Sky is nominated for Award for Tackling Worklessness

The Regeneration and Renewal Awards 2009 nominated Blue Sky for a hotly contested award. The category for tackling worklessness received among the highest number of submissions of the various categories. The quality of entries was so high that the judges had to choose from seven finalists including Blue Sky. Although the final winner was Lancashire County Council, Blue Sky was honoured to have impressed the judges enough to reach the final.

Sarah Graham, Chairman of Blue Sky’s Board, said, “This nomination was in recognition of all the teams’ hard work. It demonstrates how much has been achieved in such a short amount of time. Everyone in Blue Sky should be very proud of their part in the company’s success.”

Centre for Social Justice honours Blue Sky

On 1st July, the Centre for Social Justice announced that Blue Sky has been successful in winning one of its prestigious awards. The awards "recognise, reward and celebrate the work of exceptional poverty fighting organisations".

Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke MP presented the awards, saying, “Blue Sky is an exceptional social enterprise that offers hope and a way to break the cycle of offending by providing tailored mentoring - and that all-important job.”

The company is one of seven winners of awards totalling £70,000, presented by the Centre for Social Justice, the think-tank set up by former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith.

Blue Sky team member John Wilson accepted the award on behalf of the company. He said, "We are over the moon to get this award. It is recognition that we are more than just ex-offenders. What we really want to be is normal people doing a normal job. Thank you to the judges and the team for their support. Thanks also to Iain Duncan Smith for setting up the CSJ. Finally, I'd like to say thank you to my supervisors and the team at Blue Sky. Without them I'd probably be homeless or back in jail. Please help them to help more people like me."

Blue Sky was honoured for its effective and innovative work in fighting poverty. It was successful in the category for "the top grass roots organisation bringing about significant positive life change in our communities".

The Centre for Social Justice is an independent think tank established in 2004 to seek effective solutions to the poverty that blight parts of Britain. The CSJ awards ceremony raises awareness of the work of some of Britain’s many exceptional charities, faith-based organisations and good causes who wage a war on social breakdown and poverty.

Blue Sky in Manchester wins the Spark challenge

Blue Sky was chosen as a winner by the Spark programme because of “the innovative and entrepreneurial way they support people to return to stable accommodation and employment.” The support received by the programme will help Blue Sky to develop its new operation in Manchester.

Blue Sky is one of 15 organisations who share £640,000 of investment into a wide variety of organisations who allow homeless individuals to receive training and support, and give them a route back into work and a stable lifestyle.

Homelessness Minister Iain Wright said, "Spark is a unique opportunity for social enterprises to help the homeless into independence, through working with private sector business experts to develop their innovative business ideas.

"I'd like to congratulate this year's finalists whose creative ideas will help change business places for the better.”

Andrew Darron, Head of Regional Development, Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport and Tameside, said, “We’ve faced some stiff competition from some excellent social enterprises around the country in-order to win this award, and the funding is going to make a significant contribution to our efforts to establish Blue sky in Greater Manchester”

Short videos of Blue Sky and the other Spark winners can be seen at http://www.sparkchallenge.org/2009_winners.html

The Spark programme has been developed by the TREES Group, Eastside Consulting and Big Issue Invest. It is backed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Places for People, BT, and PricewaterhouseCoopers - bringing together the social enterprise, public and private sectors with the common aim of helping the homeless into independence.

Industry accreditations gained with Constructionline and Exor

Blue Sky is pleased to have gained two new industry accreditations, which will enable it to deliver an even better, more efficient service to its customers.

Constructionline is the UK's largest certified pre-qualification database, saving the construction industry over £500 million a year in administration. Already used by over 60% of local authorities, the database reduces duplication and saves time and money by encouraging organisations to use a single source for pre-qualification.

http://www.constructionline.co.uk

The Exor Group provides an outsourced supply chain service to Public and Private Sector Organisations. Exor’s supply chain programme is specifically designed to enable organisations to meet targets and obligations in the areas of efficiency, economic development, regeneration and procurement risk management in line with key Central Government initiatives.

http://www.exorgroup.co.uk/

362 tonnes recycled in six months

The four-person Blue Sky team working at the Harefield recycling plant recycled 362 tonnes of wood and cardboard in the six months ending 31st March 09.

This represents an 85% increase on the 195 tonnes recycled during the same period last year.

Training results for 2008/9

Every Blue Sky team member is offered a range of training opportunities to improve their job-prospects after they leave the company.

Achievements in 2008-9 included:

Individual Learning Plans/Career Development Plans were devised for 45 employees
9 employees passed Levels 1 and 2 Literacy and Numeracy exams
2 gained Driving Licences
3 passed Driving Theory examinations
2 gained Chainsaw Licences
2 gained Spraying Licences

Construction training course offered to young people

In May 2009, Blue Sky is offering twenty young people a two-week "Introduction to Construction" course, which is funded by the Rank Organisation and delivered by the Training Services Department of Carillion plc.

The course will upskill the participants and give them the qualifications to gain sustainable employment. The training is available to anyone under 30 years of age who has a history of offending and is resident within Bristol City limits. Candidates for this project were having problems finding work because of their history of offending. They were recruited from our partner agencies such as Job Centre Plus, A4E, Connexions and the Probation Service.

It is too early to judge the impact this project has had on employment opportunities but, when the course has been delivered elsewhere, a significant number of the successful participants went on to find sustainable employment.

Blue Sky takes on 150th employee

Blue Sky is celebrating taking on its 150th employee. In the 3½years since it was founded, 150 ex-offenders have been given a job, and the chance to turn their lives around.

Jackie*, Blue Sky's 150th employee, has just started work in the Hillingdon team. Before prison she had been studying to be a social worker. She was released from her second prison-term eleven weeks previously on appeal.

Jackie* said, "There are so few opportunities for finding work on release from prison. Ex-offenders are usually stereotyped and looked down upon, even though people don't know why you ended up in prison. A lot of people don't understand that you can go to prison just for being in debt.

"Blue Sky is giving me the chance to learn a new skill and, at the same time, support my family. It is a great stepping stone for anyone just coming out of custody. It gets you back into a normal working life.

"The government and other employers need to realise that we are still human beings and deserve a second chance. The government has nothing in place for ex-offenders - there are no job opportunities, no matter how many applications you fill in. Once you mention you have a criminal record, no one is interested.

"It's wonderful being at home with my family again and knowing that I can make a new start. Blue Sky and its staff have a lot to be praised for. Maybe other employers should take a leaf out of their book."

Andrea McCubbin, Blue Sky's General Manager said, "We are delighted that Blue Sky has reached this milestone. To be halfway through our second 'century' is a great achievement for a small company and is only possible because of the fantastic commitment and hard work of all our team."

* not her real name

Blue Sky is shortlisted for an award from the Centre for Social Justice

Blue Sky is very pleased to hear that it has been shortlisted for the CSJ Awards 2009.

335 organisations applied for the national awards programme that rewards innovative and effective British poverty fighters. Blue Sky is one of 15 shortlisted candidates for the award. The winners will be announced on 1st July 2009.

The Centre for Social Justice was established by Iain Duncan Smith MP in 2004 to find effective poverty fighting solutions for Britain. Most of those solutions have been developed by voluntary groups working in the UK's most hard-pressed communities. This grass-roots experience is brought to policy makers of all political parties in local and central Government.

Blue Sky wins place on social enterprise support programme

Blue Sky is delighted to learn that it has won a place in this year's Spark programme. The programme is designed to build and inspire organisations to tackle homelessness through social enterprise.

Blue Sky is one of fifteen social enterprises who will participate in the nine-month challenge. They were selected from more than 139 applicants to share in £1.6m of funding as part of the Spark competition.

The support received by the programme will help Blue Sky to develop its new operation in Manchester.

The Spark competition is now in its second year of life and has been developed by the TREES Group, Eastside Consulting and Big Issue Invest. It is backed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Places for People, BT, and PricewaterhouseCoopers - thus bringing together the social enterprise, public and private sectors with a common aim.

"I'd like to congratulate this year's finalists whose creative ideas will help change business places for the better, investing profits back into the business to help more and more homeless turn their lives around.

"Training and employment is crucial to helping people re-build their lives away from the streets and this is exactly what Spark and our homelessness programmes aim to do."

The 15 winners participate in a 9-month business support programme. Winning organisations will also be matched with one of Spark's corporate partners to receive skills and resources to help their business grow as a sustainable enterprise.

David Cameron cites Blue Sky as exemplar of best practice

Blue Sky was delighted to discover that David Cameron had referred to it as an example of good practice in his recent speech.

At the Social Enterprise Coalition Conference on 10th February, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP outlined the Party’s ideas on how social enterprise can help UK training schemes to change. He called for radical changes to social policy and cited Blue Sky as an example of good practice. He said:

“Just look at Blue Sky Development. It's the only company in the country where you need a criminal record to work there. That ex-offender may have a problem with alcohol, may be finding it hard to get a place to live, may have a child. That's at least three government departments responsible for him. At Blue Sky, he's got the focused attention of one place with the ideas and compassion to help him turn his life around.”

Mick May, Blue Sky’s Chief Executive and Founder said, “We’ve always believed passionately in the power of employment to change people’s lives. We welcome the fact that our work appears to be becoming more widely recognised.”

Blue Sky team member sets up website to help other ex-offenders

Blue Sky team member Jodie Vaughan was interviewed on TV programme, ITV Fixers on 28th January 09. Jodie was speaking about how she is turning her life around with the help of Blue Sky.

23 year old Jodie Vaughan was speaking up on behalf of the thousands of young people who are released from prison every year, only to enter a life sentence of unemployment. She said:

"I was one of the lucky ones. When I was released from prison, a friend of mine told me about [Blue Sky] a company that takes on ex-offenders ... It's great because you can be open about your record, nobody judges you and it's a stepping stone towards getting a good reference for something else.

Jodie wants to help other young offenders who are repeatedly rejected by employers, even before they get to the interview stage. With the help of the ITV Fixers, Jodie has set up a website called True Change which offers advice for offenders looking for work, personal stories and information about sympathetic employers.

You can watch Jodie's TV interview at: http://www.itvlocal.com/fixers/

You can visit Jodie's website at: www.truechange.org.uk

New Housing Association contract in Bristol

Blue Sky is delighted to have started a new contract with Sovereign Housing Association in the West Country. The first team began work in Bristol in early January 2009. The team will be carrying out grounds maintenance work in Sovereign's properties in Bristol and the surrounding area.

New recycling contract in Harefield

Blue Sky is delighted to be starting a new recycling contract in Harefield with the London Borough of Hillingdon. Their work will increase recycling and reduce landfill

The team is working on a series of waste management tasks - primarily sorting the rubbish from domestic and commercial recycling bins - separating the wood from the plastics and so on.

"It's challenging work for the team but we hope it will lead to more opportunities for us to work in all areas of recycling," said Frank Hough, Blue Sky's Employment Liaison Manager. "It's an opportunity for Blue Sky to help the environment and to offer more work to our team members."

Blue Sky welcomes this recycling contract with the London Borough of Hillingdon and hopes it will be the first of many.