HMP Downview and SUEZ launch innovative upcycling workshop supporting the rehabilitation of female offenders

The new workshop within HMP Downview combines creativity, sustainability, and rehabilitation by offering participants the chance to gain hands-on experience in furniture upcycling while working toward a City & Guilds qualification.

Featuring SUEZ artwork, the dedicated multi-function workshop provides the look and feel of a professional, branded facility, cultivating a space where prospective employers can connect with potential employees after their sentence ends.

Disposed furniture is sourced from the Community Recycling Centres that SUEZ operates on behalf of Surrey County Council. Once upcycled at the workshop, items are returned for sale at the county’s five reuse shops, reflecting the hard work of the participants.

Prisons and Probation Service Minister James Timpson and Alex Davies-Jones MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, recently visited the workshop. Both were impressed by the standard of work and praised the partnership for enabling employment opportunities and personal growth among offenders.

Commenting on the launch of the workshop, Employment Lead at HMP Downview, Gary Kendall, said: “We’re incredibly proud to work with SUEZ on this meaningful initiative. The workshop not only benefits the environment through upcycling but also empowers female offenders to build brighter futures for life after prison with practical skills and qualifications.”

Gareth Swain, Regional Manager at SUEZ, added: “SUEZ is committed to supporting sustainability and social value through our triple bottom line approach. By combining the goals of the workshop, we are proud to be backing a space that transforms lives, while positively promoting sustainability.”