Here is an article I did for ‘The Manor’ magazine about a talk given in our prison by Alberto Crisci. Click below to see a PDF of how the article appeared in the magazine or continue to scroll down for a text only version
The Clink – A Talk by Alberto Crisci
The Clink – A Talk by Alberto Crisci : Text only version
HMP Highdown 2009 and a Prison Governor beams with pride at the restaurant that is about to open its doors to the public. “That’s when I knew it would work, when Governors started owning the place.” But as the founder and driving force from The Clink, Alberto Crisci explains, it had been one hell of a journey. During his recent visit to our prison, he described how The Clink evolved from an ambitious idea into an award winning franchise that now operates in 4 sites today.
Alberto, speaking in Room 27, was introduced by Steve. Steve had originally invited him to speak at the Penned Up festival. Steve had worked for Alberto in the kitchens at Highdown back in 2002, when The Clink was only a pipe dream. As he began to speak he described his own background and how events had led him to his chosen career. Born to Italian parents, he described frequent childhood visits to Italy where he and other kids would forage and scrounge seasonal fruit and veg. Food was a huge part of his life and culture. Then, in his teens, he described how two friends, brothers, died within a few years of each other. One sadly died after an overdose and the second tragically after a prison sentence. The failure of prison to help his friend seemed to stick with Alberto.
Then we fast forward to the late 90’s when he started to work at Highdown up until 2002, when he became the prison’s catering manager and was seeing the same faces returning to prison time after time. He initially began to train the prisoners, offering accredited courses to help them to get employment. Yet despite the training, the cycle continued with these prisoners still returning to prison. Alberto asked the obvious question; why was it that these lads – now qualified – still couldn’t get work? The answer was simple, nobody wanted to take a chance on an ex-con.
Rather than accept defeat, Alberto cajoled some funding from the Governor. He worked with the prisoners to practice and prepare quality menus, then he invited the guests. He targeted high-profile diners, the decision makers that could shape employment policies within their organisations. They would enjoy top end food cooked and served to them by prisoners. It proved to be a success as the guests looked beyond the convictions and at the people. Alberto hosted more lunches (each costing about £1,000!) until a reporter from the Telegraph asked why he wasn’t opening a restaurant. Alberto asked himself the same question. Why not? He began to investigate.
After much persuasion he was offered a modest budget, but this did not fit with his vision. As he said himself, “It needed to be flash – quality. The prisoners that would be working there would need to buy into it. They had to believe in it and be proud of it. To own it” Alberto didn’t want to run an establishment that would only attract customers for a novelty visit. The only way that it would be worth anything would be if it could stand toe to toe with any competitors. But Alberto’s vision would cost in excess of £300,000 – enough to send any self respecting prison Governor on a Code Blue!
It was another fortuitous meeting that saw Alberto being introduced to a well respected PR lady and fundraiser. She set a meeting with three well funded philanthropists. Alberto left that meeting not only with the funding, but with three trustees that sit on the Clink’s board today. There was one more problem to overcome, the prison service would not employ ex-offenders and Alberto was determined to employ people he knew to run the restaurant. The solution was to register the Clink as a charity so the charity employs the staff – not the prison service. Highdown’s Clink opened it’s doors in 2009 to a fanfare of praise.
Since 2009, the Clink has gone from strength to strength. The second Clink opened in Cardiff with sites also opening in Brixton and Styall. HMP Send have gardens and poly tunnels where they grow fresh, seasonal produce for use in both the Brixton and Highdown Clinks. HMP Downview are just about to launch their Clink Events service. They will be providing catering services to customers in their area. Clink Events already run catering services in and around London. This is one route to employment for prisoners after their release.
The Clink were also short-listed to both staff and cater at London’s Guild Hall where state banquets are hosted- a feat that they achieved on merit, not because of any sympathy. But most importantly, Alberto sees more and more prisoners succeed after their release. Whether they work for the Clink or another company doesn’t matter. Whether they keep working in the catering industry doesn’t even matter. The Clink is intended to give experience and self confidence. Prisoners learn the value of work; they feel the sense of achievement. They begin to believe that they can make a better life for themselves.
Since 2009 the Clink has developed how it helps staff. They now employ a key-worker in every branch. This one-to-one service helps staff with every aspect of their life, whether in custody or towards release. They help with finding jobs, sorting accommodation and even making contact with other support agencies that will be on hand when prisoners are released. The focus of the Clink is – and always has been – ensuring that prisoners have the skills, tools and experience that they will need to make a success of their lives in the community. To get out of jail and to stay out!
Alberto finished the session by inviting some questions from the audience, critical among these questions was “How do I apply?”
You should speak to your Offender Supervisor before you do anything. However, if you do succeed in getting a place and being transferred you will need to be on your best behaviour. If you misbehave and break the rules you may be sacked from the Clink. If you are sacked you can also expect to be shipped back to your sending jail. Applicants should also be within about two years of their release / parole date. This is a practical need to ensure that prisoners are progressing forwards towards release – which in turn makes space for the next candidates. If you want to improve your chances of getting a place in the Clink then you should enquire about completing any Catering or Cleaning courses that are available in your sending prison. This point was illustrated when Alberto was asked why BICS was such a big deal. He replied that you can’t supervise cleaning if you don’t know how to do it yourself and that there is no such thing as a bad qualification!
Alberto’s talk was appreciated by staff, visitors and prisoners alike. His down-to-earth manner and light-hearted approach made the time fly by. Judging by the applause and chatter afterwards, I think that he can expect to meet a few candidates from our prison at a Clink in the very near future!
