UK: Merseyrail, Angel Trains and the Go-Ahead Group have signed up to support an initiative aimed at helping ex-prisoners find work in the transport sector.
Thought to the first such campaign of its kind in the UK rail market, the Rebuilding Futures Alliance connects transport organisations with charities working with former inmates. The scheme aims to help low-risk offenders to find paid employment and to improve their work and life skills, with the aim of cutting reoffending rates while simultaneously addressing the well-documented skills crisis in the transport industry.
RFA was founded in January 2025 by former RSSB executive Chris Leech. Commenting on the launch, he said the group was ‘blown away to have the support of these three major players in the rail and bus sector. It’s truly humbling for the RFA to have their backing and we can’t wait to get started working together to change lives, reduce reoffending and boost the economy.’
RFA says UK reoffending rates are amongst the highest in the western world. One in two people reoffend within 12 months of release, compared to one in five if they secure a job with a purpose. The alliance has already established links with more than 100 past conviction charities, and together the partners will seek to place and track low risk ex-offenders with transport employers.
This process will be supported by an employment tracker developed by technology provider Genius, while a social value impact model created by Loop and RSSB will be used to track each person’s progress into employment and measure the value to the economy.
RFA says that, based on Home Office statistics, the average cost to keep a prisoner in jail in 2022-23 was £51 108, while reoffending costs the UK economy overall £18bn per annum.
‘We are delighted to be a founding member of the Rebuilding Futures Alliance’, said Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, which is the launch operator in the rail market. ‘For over 20 years, Merseyrail has been at the heart of the communities we serve, driving growth, providing jobs, and supporting those that live and work across our region. This new partnership will build on that, aiming to break the cycle of reoffending by providing people with meaningful and rewarding employment, helping them to rebuild their future.’
Malcom Brown of Angel Trains added that ‘as a company we are built on innovation and sustainability, so giving people a second chance in life to make a difference that benefits others makes complete sense to us. That’s why we are proud to join forces with the Rebuilding Futures Alliance to tap into what will hopefully be a highly motivated group, breaking that cycle of reoffending and helping improve Britain’s railways now and for the future.’
