Skip to main content

Redemption Roasters

1819. Max Dubiel
1820. Ted Rosner

Max Dubiel and Ted Rosner, from London, created ‘Redemption Roasters’, a prison-based social enterprise that is working to reduce re-offending rates in the UK by training hundreds of prisoners in coffee skills and working with them after release to secure employment.

Max Dubiel and Ted Rosner

Launched in 2017, ‘Redemption Roasters’ is the world’s first prison-based coffee roastery and aims to tackle the high rates of re-offending in the UK – where prisoners are 50% more likely to reoffend after release if they leave prison without skills and employment prospects – by training inmates to become baristas. The enterprise has a training facility at HMP The Mount, with further  coffee academies placed inside other prison sites across England and Wales, and has so far supported over 400 offenders. Max and Ted also run nine coffee shops across London, which further support employment opportunities for ex-offenders reintegrating into society.

In a personal letter to Max, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“I was inspired to learn about ‘Redemption Roasters’ and your fantastic coffee academies.

“Alongside Ted, you have helped hundreds of prisoners turn their lives around by developing barista skills – skills which help them integrate them back into society and take up jobs in the coffee industry. I know that you employ ex-offenders in your nine coffee shops across London and I wish you well as you continue to expand your venture.”

In a personal letter to Ted, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“Thank you for your fantastic initiative ‘Redemption Roasters’ through which you are helping hundreds of ex-offenders gain skills and become employed.

“Your coffee academies in prisons and roastery in HMP The Mount are a brilliant way to offer skills inside prisons to help rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for work ahead of them.”

Max and Ted said:

“We are delighted to be recognised by the Prime Minister and gratefully accept this award on behalf of the team at Redemption. Their hard work, skill and dedication to progress is gradually changing the attitude of society towards ex-offenders.”

See more about ‘Redemption Roasters’

The daily Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

Volunteer now

Search winners