Carl’s Story
Approaching his release date, Carl wasn’t hopeful for the future, “I’m getting on in life, and I thought that going to jail would mean I’d never get a job again”.
Carl first met StandOut while at HMP Wandsworth in 2019 and remembers initially seeing a poster about StandOut and reading it as Stand Up! From thinking he was coming along to a comedy workshop, to learning more about how StandOut could support him whilst preparing to leave prison - he reflects on how his mindset about getting out changed, “StandOut taught me that there are good chances of getting jobs, and there are employers out there that will actually disregard your prison sentence. They are more interested in the person that you are and if you can do the job - that’s more important than what you’ve done in the past.”
After leaving prison, and with a renewed sense of hope, Carl began to apply for jobs. His dedication was rewarded when he successfully interviewed for a role at a river cruise company. Soon after, the impact of the pandemic meant that again, he was looking for a job. He got back in touch with StandOut and we invited him along to our very first Career Hub.
StandOut’s Career Hub began in February 2022 to provide an opportunity for Trainees who are back in the community to gain information and support on education, training and employment. Each month we host employers or training providers who are positive about working with people with convictions, at our offices to share more about careers in their industry and the opportunities available. Career Hub is held by our Community team, Louisa and Iona, who are on hand to offer coaching around job applications, training opportunities or wider issues that Trainees want to explore.
It was at that very first Career Hub that Carl met Only a Pavement Away, who specialise in connecting people with careers in hospitality. This led to an opportunity in bar work, “I haven’t looked back since. Getting work fills you with confidence and my life’s been up and up from here.”
The increase in confidence Carl felt extended to his life outside work too, “I started playing rugby again after 40 years - I never thought I’d do that! That builds your confidence up too, getting involved in sport. One thing leads to another: build up my confidence, do work, do sport. Bar work isn’t glamorous work, but you’re getting out, you’re meeting people - and it was at work that I met my wife, I never thought I’d be getting married.”
“The building of confidence, going out there and applying for jobs, getting support with CVs and computer skills. In my opinion it’s been a life saver.”
Carl links some of the positive changes in his life back to StandOut, “the building of confidence, going out there and applying for jobs, getting support with CVs and computer skills. In my opinion it’s been a life saver.”
Carl’s resilience and positive mindset have helped him deal with the challenges and setbacks he has faced since leaving prison. He is also a valued member of StandOut’s Experts Beyond Bars (EBB); StandOut Trainees who use their voice and lived experience to keep our work rooted in the realities of life after prison and to advocate for change.
It’s been over two years since Carl left prison and he has come a long way, “I’ve put that all behind me, time is a great healer and I don’t see myself as before. The further away it gets, the more I don’t associate myself with it anymore - there’s more to me than what happened in the past.”
The progress he has made is testament to his hard work and determination to use his new found confidence to change his life for the better.
Carl is yet to find a course in stand up comedy - but we are so pleased he made the decision to come to StandOut!