The manager of a coffee shop and café run as a joint venture between Weston College and Leyhill Prison has won a surprise award.

Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop is based next to the Gloucestershire prison, and is open to the public.

It employs people who are in custody as part of a Weston College social enterprise which has been created to provide opportunities for those in custody.

Kaye Thomas received the special award in recognition of her work with the prison ‘residents’ and the quality service the shop provides.

It was presented by Charles Martell, the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, who visits the shop on his regular visits to Leyhill.

“It was a wonderful surprise,” said Kaye.

“Ray Johnson, the prison governor, called me into a room to, apparently, talk about buying some new blinds for the shop.

“I was then presented with the award by Charles Martell. The High Sheriff of Somerset and the future High Sheriff of Gloucestershire had come as well. There were a few tears in my eyes I don’t mind admitting.”

The award recognises Kaye’s efforts in developing the social, communication and employability skills of the employees, who are all residents of the prison.

“It’s a very rewarding job,” said Kaye.

“As well as barista and catering training, we provide work experience and help residents develop the broader skills they’ll need to secure jobs on release.

“Everyone who works in the shop has to hand in a CV and is interviewed – just like any job.

“It’s great when former employees get back in touch to say how well they’re doing and how we helped them.”

The shop is run in partnership with HMP Leyhill by Releasing New Potential – a Community Interest Company operated by Weston College – which helps people lead crime-free lives.

Gerry Shattock, Releasing New Potential’s Social Enterprise Manager, said: “Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop is a commercial venture. That means everything has to be up to a very high standard –the quality of food, drink and service – or customers won’t come back.

“This not only provides residents with the practical knowledge they need in order to work in a hospitality environment, but also broader operational skills that can be applied in many other sectors.”

Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop is clearly proving a big hit with customers. It’s currently the top-ranked coffee and tea shop in the Gloucester area on Trip Advisor, and second in the list of ‘places to eat’.

As well as running Releasing New Potential, Weston College provides education in prisons across the South West of England, including Leyhill. Curricula are designed to engage offenders in learning and help them find employment when they are released. The Weston College team delivers a wide range of courses in the prisons, including catering, English, maths, customer service, art, plastering, carpentry, and bricklaying.

Nearly 30 Year 6 students from Ruishton Church of England Primary School recently spent a day at Weston College South West Skills Campus to get a taste of the construction, building services and engineering provision.

The primary school students took part in a range of engaging activities based on subjects that can be studied at South West Skills Campus on Locking Road. The learners ‘raised the roof’ by learning about how roofs are built and what makes them sturdy. Under the provision of our carpentry staff, the Year 6 students learnt how to safely use tools such as hammers and spirit levels.

Next up the enthusiastic groups got a taste ofcivil engineering and the vital role it plays worldwide. In this workshop they built boats using foil and tested their buoyancy by seeing how many marbles they could carry until they sank.

Last but not least, the group visited the motor vehicle department where they had a look around a fully operational workshop. Their newly learnt skills were put to the test as the students were tasked with replacing tyres on a car and checking the levels of the engine components.

Chris Kamin, Headteacher at Ruishton, commented “The whole day was a resounding success and a joy to be a part of. The College has great staff who showed real care and nurture towards our students. The professionalism and courtesy demonstrated was second to none. The experiences gained and knowledge shared will have a great impact on their future lives and earlier decisions”.

Steve Caldwell, head of faculty for Building, Automotive and Civil Engineering at the College added “It was amazing to see the next generation getting involved and showing such enthusiasm towards these hands on subjects. We look forward to hopefully seeing them again in the future!”

For more information on the courses available in these areas, please visit our website:

Carpentry - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/construction

Motor Vehicle - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/motor-vehicle

Engineering - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engineering

To find out what it’s like to work in the early years sector, we asked an industry professional to share some opinions and experiences from their career. Jay Sparkle has been working in the early years industry for over 12 years. He’s currently area manager for Storal Learning Ltd and works closely with nurseries all over the south west, including Honeytree Nursery at Weston General Hospital.

What made you want to work with young people?

Well I grew up with a large family. I had lots of younger siblings so I always naturally felt this responsibility to look after them. When I was a bit older my nephew would often come round and play. I enjoyed playing along and found the way in which he was learning really interesting. I wanted to learn more about behaviours and what causes them which, in turn, sparked my interest in working with children.

What are the top three qualities or skills you need to work with young people?

Patience, imagination and confidence. You really have to be yourself around children and not worry about what others might think. For example, I know I’m not a great singer, but when I’m singing with the children I don’t worry about others judging me and just go for it. People forget that children don’t judge and ensuring they are engaged and having fun is the most important thing.

A lot of people might be worried about not advancing in this industry. Are there many opportunities for progression?

There are so many opportunities for progression. Starting as a student at a day nursery, you can then progress to become a manager, area manager and then perhaps open your own nursery. And that’s just one possible career path working with children. The industry is always changing and evolving so it’s quite exciting to be a part of. It’s very much ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’ so you’re more likely to enjoy your job more if you’re invested and want to succeed.

Are there currently any skills gaps in the industry?

Knowledge surrounding safeguarding practices and policies will always be relevant and in high demand. More people need to understand that the job isn’t just playing with children. Practitioners have a massive responsibility to keep the children in their care safe and happy. There can be lots of paperwork at times so understanding the core values and safeguarding procedures is of the upmost importance in this industry.

Is a qualification in early years necessary?

It’s clear when an applicant has a qualification in early years. Their underpinning knowledge and skills are already there and ready to be applied in the workplace. However, experience is equally important. I’ve seen people with the top grades struggle because they’re not comfortable with the children. That’s why the work experience programme at Weston College is so beneficial. It allows students to experience the work environment, put their lessons into practice and find out if this career is for them.

What impresses you most about Honey Tree Nursery?

As I said before, the industry is forever evolving. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ and the staff at Honeytree are excellent at responding to changes and adapting their practices accordingly. Every child is different so no two days are the same. The reliable staff always work hard to improve, and their ‘good enough isn’t good enough’ attitude really makes the nursery stand out.

Find out more about our Early Years courses and how you can start your journey to a rewarding and challenging career!