Eleven ex-offenders in Cheshire have now been offered the chance to make a fresh start thanks to a new scheme that aims to cut the cycle of re-offending in the county.
Just three months after the launch of ‘Fresh Start’, an initiative led by Dan Price, Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, the first cohort of ex-offenders are settling into their new roles.
Chester Zoo is among several employers opening their doors to ex-offenders in Cheshire providing meaningful, sustained employment.
The Fresh Start initiative aims to place 100 ex-offenders into work before September 2026, partnering with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Probation Service and specialist provider Tempus Novo who support both the ex-offender and the business.
Since the pilot launched in September, Probation has referred more than 100 ex-offenders into the scheme and 11 individuals have now job secured positions in customer relations and warehousing in Cheshire, with a further four placements in the pipeline.
Employment – alongside stable housing and supportive relationships – is one of the most effective ways to help someone to stop re-offending.
PCC Dan Price said: “Fresh Start is more than an employment programme. It is a practical way to cut crime in our County. Together with businesses, public services and our communities, we are creating sustainable career options and reshaping lives. When we offer a second chance, people take it, and Cheshire becomes safer, stronger and fairer for everyone.”
Jamie Christon DL, Chief Executive Officer, Chester Zoo said: “Chester Zoo is proud to have been part of the Fresh Start project from day one and in support of the work the Police and Crime Commissioner is doing. As a major employer in Cheshire and with a wide variety of skilled careers, we will continue to act as a gateway to jobs for those in our community ready to seek employment.”
Valdemar Wawrosz and Steve Freer, co-founders of Tempus Novo, said: “This pilot offers the criminal justice system something genuinely different – a proven, practical model that reduces crime while directly supporting Cheshire businesses and the wider economy. Dan Price understands business and recognises a model that works. With patience, realism and a clear-long term view, this approach can be scaled sustainably across other counties.”
