Scott Ward and Treana Boden (right), from 2nd Avenue recruitment, are seen with Sally Edwards from West Midlands Probation Service

Prison is no deterrent to people like Scott Ward. “Being inside didn’t scare me,” laughs the 25-year-old ex-con from Wellington.

“I enjoyed it. I didn’t have to worry about my council tax or rent, they even gave me a telly. I could play football and my food was always on time. Prison was great.”

Scott was, in his own words, a “prolific criminal”.

He said” “I started when I was 13. I did the lot. Pickpocketing, theft, assault, car crime, driving offences and drugs – taking and dealing. If I needed some milk or something to smoke, I’d have to find a way to get it. There are a lot of easy pickings, if you understand what I mean.”

Scott has been out of trouble, however, for eight months. The legal system can take little, or no credit. Scott is keeping on the straight and narrow because of a new business called 2nd Avenue, which has been launched by West Mercia Probation Service, in Telford.

Treana Boden is also a convert to 2nd Avenue.

“Eight months ago, I’d been charged with assaulting three police officers,” says the 25-year-old mother-of-one, from Ketley Bank, Telford.

“It was a one-off, I was drunk and angry. I shocked myself. I’d never been in trouble before. I almost lost everything. It’ll never, never happen again. I got 200 hours community service and 12 months probation. I want to spend my time now telling other people not to commit offences, or helping people if they’ve got it wrong.”

2nd Avenue has turned around the lives of Scott and Treana.

Eight months ago, Scott was fearing a three-year prison term for his latest round of offences. Treana was facing homelessness and losing her son. Today, they are company directors at 2nd Avenue, determined to help others.

“It feels great, really,” says Treana.

“I want a better life for me and my son. I made a mistake, a bad one, and I want to do something about it. 2nd Avenue is giving me the chance to do that.”

2nd Avenue is the first business of its kind in the UK. It is non-profit-making and was formed with start-up funding from Government agencies and other organisations.

Sally Edwards, from West Mercia Probation Service, says: “It’s the product of focus groups with offenders. People who have been in prison or committed offences often find it impossible to start again. If they go for a job, potential employers often don’t want to know.”

Scott warms to the theme: “You walk into a place and instantly you’re judged. People look down on you. Offenders don’t want to carry on offending. They want people to help them. But the help isn’t always there.”

2nd Avenue will act as an employment agency for people with criminal convictions. It will help them start their own self-employed businesses, as painters and decorators, taxi drivers, or, if the demand is there, astro physicists. It will also line up work with far-sighted employers.

Treana says: “You’ve got no chance of getting a job once you tell someone you’re an offender. 2nd Avenue is honest. We say to potential employers ‘Look, this is what this person did. They are sorry. They want to prove something to you, to society but most of all to themselves’.”

Scott adds: “Offenders are often more motivated to do a good job than people who’ve not been in trouble. They’ve got to prove to themselves that they’re a good worker, as well as to the people who employ them.

“I’ve spent my whole life proving people right. The people who said I was no good, all I’ve done is prove them right. I want to spend the rest of my life proving people wrong. I want to make something of myself. I want to make money that’s legit.”

Scott’s decision to become a part of 2nd Avenue has already reaped rewards. In August, he faced a three-year prison sentence for a variety of offences. Instead, a judge found himself impressed by his 2nd Avenue work and decided on community punishment and probation.

Scott says: “2nd Avenue has three principles. It’s about honesty, understanding and trust. We’re honest with the employers, there’s understanding for the offenders and there’s mutual trust between all parties. It’s harder to lead a life that’s straight. The temptation to return to crime is always there. That’s why 2nd Avenue is so important.”

Treana adds: “It’s terrible when you want to get a job but you know people will look down at you because of what you’ve done. It is so frustrating, it makes you so angry. The only way around that is to be honest right away; to say ‘This person has done that, they accept responsibility, they want to work like everybody else, please give them a chance’.”

Treana and Scott both have their work cut out in breaking down prejudice. But they’d rather battle the preconceptions of others than struggle alone with their own demons. Besides, their missionary work is therapeutic as they strive to remain crime-free.

Sally Edwards adds: “2nd Avenue is a recruitment agency built on trust. We won’t just find work for people, then leave them alone. We’ll go back and see how people are getting on, then work through any issues with them. Providing additional support is very important. We’ll also provide employers with an assurance of a skilled, committed and supported workforce.”

It is hoped 2nd Avenue will reduce the risk of re-offending, make it easier for ex-cons to reintegrate into the community and deliver a cost-effective and efficient service with strong ethical business value.

Time will tell whether it proves successful.

By Andy Richardson