Sitting alone in his prison cell, Steven Fishwick realised his life had to change. After 11 years spent in the revolving door between jail and the real world, he'd had enough. In that moment, he resolved to stop committing crime, find somewhere to live, and get a job.
But it wasn't that simple. Soon after he was released, he was sent back to prison for a burglary he had committed some time before serving his previous sentence.
"I knew I didn't want to be there any more," says Steven, 31. "I have three boys and I thought, I don't want this, I can't do it any more. Once I'd made my mind up, I knew I would achieve it.
"Even though I ended up going back, I know I won't do anything again.
"I have been going to jail since I was 14. I've never been able to get a job, so I would get bored and go out and do things like street rob.
"I'd had enough of it."
Since he was released from his last sentence ten months ago, Steven has been a regular at new Hull charity, Restore and Resettle (R&R), which aims to stop people reoffending.
Between February and April this year, 270 people have been through its doors at Westwood House in Pearson Park, west Hull. Of those, 100 are regularly attending for help to gain qualifications, search for employment and keep themselves out of trouble. Eleven have gone on to find a job. Many will pop in simply for a chat over a cup of coffee.
Only one has been recalled to prison.
The charity has been set up by husband and wife team Liz and Garry Hopkinson.
"A lot of the programmes ex-offenders are sent on are too structured for them, so they stop going," says Garry. "We wanted to do something that is more holistic and tailored to what they actually want. Most just want somewhere to go instead of hanging about on the streets and they want support, which we try to give them.
"As well as the more formal training and guidance, we have mini projects running to help them improve life skills, like teamwork, communication and problem solving.
"We try to do things they are interested in. For example, Steven loves fishing, so we have been using fishing magazines to help him learn to read."
The pair were inspired to launch the service through Liz's work offering advice to prisoners in HMP Hull, where she would see the same faces time and again.
"Talking to them, it was clear there was something missing when they were released," she says. "They were often coming up to me saying they were being released the next day but don't have anywhere to live. They said talking to me was the first proper conversation they'd had."
When Steven first came to Restore and Resettle, he didn't have anywhere to live and couldn't read or write. With help from Liz and Garry, among others, he has now found a flat, put together a CV and is looking for a job.
"I have been here every day," says Steven. "I have to do things like work on the computers and the job share, but I am a grafter so I have been working on the garden a lot and I'm now in charge of it.
"I've always found it hard to get a job because I can't read and write, and being an ex-offender makes it even harder.
"I want nothing more than to have a job. I would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week if I was given a chance.
"I would work a month for free just to show someone what I could do. Since I have been coming here, I have noticed a real difference in me, and other people have, too."
As Steven speaks, other ex-offenders start to tell their own stories. Will, a heavy drinker who would regularly shoplift, has done so well, he has now become a mentor to others.
"I was getting involved in robbing and just wasn't living right," he says. "Since I have been coming here, Garry and Liz have helped me so much and I feel like I have come a long way."
Cameron was released from a five-year sentence for armed robbery last year. He says: "I have just signed up with R&R and they are a massive help. Hopefully I will be getting back into work with their help."
Upstairs in Westwood House is the base of Turning Point, a company that helps find homes for ex-offenders. Director Tony Robinson says they work closely with R&R to help their clients find somewhere to live.
"Having a home makes a massive difference to people," he says. "Just having somewhere to go back to and feel safe provides stability and helps them stop offending."
Although the charity has only been running in Westwood House for a few months, Garry and Liz are immensely proud of what they have achieved so far.
"It's amazing to see the difference in them," says Garry. "We have such a good rapport with them all and know they would do anything for us because of the help we've given them."
Fundraising day
A FUNDRAISING event is being held to raise money for Restore and Resettle and Macmillan Cancer Care.
It has been organised by criminology student Vikki Marshall, who has a placement at the charity, and offender mentor Will.
The family fun day will take place on August 2 in the charity's grounds of Westwood House in Pearson Park, west Hull.
Vikki says: "I wanted to do something to raise money for R&R, but we have also decided to split the money we raise with Macmillan.
"Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, so we wanted to be able to help them as well.
"Hopefully, it will be a really good day with lots to do for all the family and will help both charities."
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