Fighting re-offending
217. Fran Findlater
The founder of a top branding consultancy has built a successful social enterprise that is reducing re-offending.
Fran Findlater created Bounce Back in South London in 2010 as a small painting and decorating company employing ex-offenders. Since then, over 400 people have been through the Bounce Back training programme with a re-offending rate 48% lower than the national average. The scheme has attracted backing and support from the Ministry of Justice, Comic Relief and Alliance Boots, amongst others.
With 20 years experience in design and branding, including a board position within the advertising giant Omnicom group, Fran began employing ex-offenders as part of a CSR initiative at her own company in 2009.
Seeing the success of the idea, Fran founded Bounce Back and has grown it from a small painting and decorating firm to an organisation that now trains prisoners within HMP Brixton and ex-offenders outside prison. It also supports ex-offenders in the community back into work – with jobs within Bounce Back and at other large building firms – in the belief that ‘everyone has the ability to change’.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Bounce Back has become an enormously popular route to rehabilitation with over 500 referrals a year. By offering real jobs they act as a valuable bridge and support people from prison into employment. Bounce Back courses also include voluntary work experience in the community and NVQ qualifications in Painting and Decorating.”
Weldeab, a trainer in the Bounce Back centre in HMP Brixton said:
“Bounce Back has changed my life, thanks to them I have grown from a painter and decorator to a senior trainer in the centre in HMP Brixton. It has helped me to stay away from crime and given me and my family real hope for a positive future.”
Fran said:
“I’m delighted to receive this Point of Light award. It’s a wonderful recognition of the dedication and hard work of the entire Bounce Back team. Our straightforward aim is to help as many ex-offenders as possible get their lives back onto a crime free track and reduce the burden of re-offending on society.”