Heating and Ventilating

Construction charity, the Construction Youth Trust has helped produce The Fear Factory, a new documentary that explores conflicting views about youth offending.
For two and a half years, the Construction Youth Trust has worked with young people in custody, supporting them into training and employment within the construction industry.

The Construction Youth trust has collaborated with Add Action and Safer Wales to create the documentary. The Fear Factory was launched at the Empire Leicester Square on March 1. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with a panel that included Maria Eagle, Minister for Prisons.

'The trust believes that addressing the issues of prevention, sentencing and rehabilitation deserve much wider debate,' said Bev Greaves, Construction Youth Trust Toolkit for Life co-ordinator. 'We achieve more when we work collaboratively towards an aim of achieving a more cohesive and fair society that allows young people to thrive and contribute positively', she added.

The UK issues more young people with custodial sentences than any other western european country. One of the most common reasons for re-offending is being unemployed on release from prison.

'The cost to society of re-offending is staggering,' said Rod Bennion, chairman of The Construction Youth Trust. 'Two thirds of re-offending is a direct result of unemployment. Recruiting more ex-offenders reduces re-offending, saves tax payers money and adds great talent to the construction workforce', he added.