Code4000 - CODE breaking the cycle of crime

by Startacus Admin

Code4000 is a UK programme set up to help break the cycle of crime by teaching prisoners coding skills. We found out more about the initiative.. 

Starting with a pilot of sixteen prisoners at HMP Humber, Code4000 are aiming to build a network of coding workshops in UK prisons, with the aim of giving prisoners a second chance, turning their lives around, and training them in a skills set which has a high demand in the UK (and global) jobs market.

Inspired by The Last Mile - an established prison coding programme that runs in several prisons in California, the plan is that by teaching prisoners coding skills, the prisoners increase their chances of employment post-release, as well as help supply companies with the skills they so desperately need. A win-win all round hopefully as by not only turning around the lives of individuals you hopefully improving the communities that the prisoners will eventual return to.

Code 4000 is not only the first initiative of its kind in the UK, but also in Europe and has been founded and facilitated by Duane Jackson founder of KashFlow Accounting Software, Michael Taylor, an entrepreneur with over 25 years experience of working in both the public and private sectors,  Andrew Dixon an Enterprise Fellow at the The Prince’s Trust and is the founder and Trustee of the Woodhaven Trust, which focuses on prison reform and various offender rehabilitation initiatives within the UK, and Neil Barnby winner of both the G4S International and UK & Ireland awards in 2012 for his work in prisons. You can see their full bios via the the code4000.org site.

Check out all the details on this fab initiative via the code4000.org site and if inspired by this story, you might also want to read our previous interview with Juliet Hope of Startup Now - an award winning UK programme that has worked with over 1300 male and female ex-offenders, helping over 300 to set up their own businesses.

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Published on: 11th February 2017