Working Chance was founded in 2007 by Jocelyn Hillman, Chief Executive. We work in partnership with the Prison and Probation Services and a range of external referring agencies to achieve our core objective: getting women ex-offenders into work.

Working Chance has charitable status and relies entirely on grant funding and donations. Our Board of Trustees comprises individuals with direct and first-hand experience of the Criminal Justice System, Our Patrons include Baroness Corston (author of “The Corston Report: a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system”, Home Office 2007), Jonathan Aitken and Nicola Horlick.

Employment is proven to be the single most important factor in reducing recidivism, cutting re-offending by up to one half. We target employers to find quality work placements, both paid and voluntary, which allow the women offenders to develop not only their work skills but to build a career; ultimately to cross the social divide from exclusion to inclusion.

We break down barriers by briefing the employer about the offending history, attending interviews with the women and supporting both employer and employee throughout the whole recruitment process and first months of employment.