{"id":15516,"date":"2013-06-10T17:09:00","date_gmt":"2013-06-10T17:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=3bac0dff4d7905671643cc1bee2013a3"},"modified":"2013-06-10T17:09:00","modified_gmt":"2013-06-10T17:09:00","slug":"press-release-driving-school-helping-ex-offenders-obtain-licences-wins-big-society-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=15516","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Charity supporting ex-offenders wins Big Society Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The UR4Driving project, part of The Upper Room<\/a> charity, teaches ex-offenders to drive, in return for voluntary work that supports the charity\u2019s various activities. <\/p>\n

UR4Driving works with ex-offenders to help them improve their lives and give them the self-confidence and skills needed to become economically independent and find employment opportunities.<\/p>\n

A significant number of those involved in the programme have gone on to secure full or part-time work. <\/p>\n

Commenting on the award, Prime Minister David Cameron said:<\/p>\n

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I would like to congratulate UR4Driving for being the latest winners of the Big Society Award for the work they do to help ex-offenders secure jobs and turn them away from a life of crime.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Amanuel Woldesus, Operations Director of The Upper Room, said: <\/p>\n

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The Upper Room is delighted to have won this Big Society Award in recognition of the outstanding work of the whole Upper Room team \u2013 trustees, staff and especially the enthusiasm of all our volunteers, to improve people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

Mature individuals understand the benefits of working for a charity as a volunteer, helping the poorest people in London survive, and getting a tangible benefit out of it. They make it through the whole course brilliantly.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Notes to editors<\/h2>\n

UR4Driving is one part of The Upper Room charity<\/a> which in addition provides survival support (meals, clothing, and medical screening) to the homeless, a multilingual employment support service and a low-cost food redistribution operation to other homeless charities that are helping to feed homeless and destitute people.<\/p>\n

Graduates and institutions that are affected by UR4Driving student successes say:<\/p>\n

\u201cI have stayed out of prison for two and a half years now. I have a full-time delivery job, so now I drive all over London and make money at the same time.\u201d CA<\/p>\n

\u201cYour programme is one of the most exciting initiatives in tackling re-offending rates that I have ever come across.\u201d Simon Cooper, Probation Officer<\/p>\n

\u201cThe deal on offer here is brilliant \u2026 instead of being a problem they are becoming part of the solution.\u201d Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons<\/p>\n

More information can be found by visiting The Upper Room website.<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch The Upper Room video<\/a><\/p>\n

On the Big Society Awards<\/h3>\n

The Big Society Awards were set up by the Prime Minister in November 2010. The aim is to acknowledge individuals and organisations across the UK that demonstrate the Big Society in their work or activities. In so doing, the aim is also to galvanise others to follow.<\/p>\n

The award focuses upon three specific areas:<\/p>\n

Outstanding contribution to community<\/h4>\n