About Us
#SheMatters Employment Network is an initiative borne out of the #SheMatters campaign, as a means to connect women who have been through the Criminal Justice System and potential employers.
#SheMatters believes every woman is valued and deserves a chance of a better future.
We know that employment helps to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. However, women leaving prison face many barriers to accessing training and employment opportunities.
96% of women 6 weeks after leaving prison are unemployed. The situation for women is worse than for men; 4% of women compared to 11% of men were in employment 6 weeks after release. It is a huge need that we want to see addressed and changed.
Research has shown that 81% of people think that businesses employing people who have been to prison are making a positive contribution to society, and that 75% people would be comfortable buying from a business that employs people who have been to prison.
We have a vision of building a network of employers who we have a relationship with and are open to offering employment and training/volunteering opportunities for the women we support after prison. We will be there to support both of you, and minimise the fear women can face when applying for jobs about how their offences can affect how a potential employer views them. We hope that our advocacy will allow each woman to feel comfortable from the start and be able to excel with you.
