Story Type: Successes

I tried again for my B2 Visa and was granted

After my last attempt in London two years ago I bit the bullet and tried again.

I must admit the new online application process and booking system for the US Embassy/Consulate is speedier and cheaper than going through the old (09) £1.20pm number.

I applied for my visa at the US Consulate in Belfast, very nice building, bit tricky to find but head towards the Ulster Bank offices and there is the security office.

My appointment was at 11.45am but arrived at 11.30am. Security were friendly and you can leave your mobile phone with them which is a bonus as there are no public pay phones near the Consulate. After being searched, I walked up the grounds past the Consular Generals office (he was in and waved when he saw someone walking up the path who was a visitor). You go right to the back of the building into a small office with three counters and an Interview Booth. There is a vending machine for drinks.

I passed all of my documents over:

DS-160 Confirmation Page
Interview Confirmation Page (Printed off the new website)
Old Passport
ACPO Certificate
VCU01 Form
2”x2” Photo

I was asked to sit down and wait, there were another ten people in the room. I was called up to the desk again around 40minutes later and they took my fingerprints and handed me back my photo. About 20minutes later I was called into the Interview Booth and was greeted by a nice friendly American Lady.

She asked me:-

Why I wanted the visa?
What I was going to do in the States?
How long I was with my partner?
Explain to me what happened regarding your conviction etc. – I was very truthful and told her about my volunteering etc to keep paying back to the community.

She typed away at her screen. Thanked me for being so upfront and honest and she said that “it’s my decision [dramatic pause and stern look on her face] to grant you your visa for 10 years.” (Big moment! I cried and was full of thanks. Now I am just waiting for my passport to come back.)

Total time at the consulate: 1hour 20minutes

Just be truthful, honest and dress smart. Just remember to take all of your information with you and be honest.

The prizes in life we fail to win, is because we doubt the strength within

As my Mum always told me throughout my sentence, I urge you to listen, “The prizes in life we fail to win, is because we doubt the strength within”.

In the May of 1999 my life fell apart! I was convicted of the importation of a class A drug and sentenced to four years in prison. I was 19.

I made the most of my time inside, determined that if I would be granted my parole and I kept my head down I would make my time away as productive as possible. So therefore, I worked long hours in the prison kitchen, attended computer courses and I even got addicted to cross stitch! I did anything that would make the time away from my Mum, my Nan and friends more bearable. My hard work paid off and I was granted parole. I then, thankfully, left HMP after serving only two years of a four year sentence.

Life outside was strange. Going out in the dark and even everything generally taken for granted like the feel of a carpet between my toes.

On release the whispers start. ‘ She has been released’…..’ Bet she won’t go anywhere in life’…. Really?!!

I had my first interview two weeks later. The first thing I told my potential employers was that I was released from prison two weeks ago. I had to disclose my conviction as it was not spent and at the time would never become spent. That evening I got the call ….. The job was mine. I was 21.

I am now nearly 35 and for the past 13 years I have worked nonstop. I have never been out of work and now run the UK division for a global company. I go on fantastic holidays. Drive a wonderful car. Eat in lovely places and……………… fill in the gaps! Am I boasting?? Yes maybe I am because people love to see other people fail. Even more so when you have ex-offender printed on your forehead.

So it goes to show that by working hard, having focus, vision and sheer determination then your dreams really can come true.

For me now the old book is well and truly closed because of the information I have learnt from the Unlock website. The new legislation that came into effect in March 2014 means my conviction has now become spent, which I am so thankful for. I know now that I am a different person to the one I was from when I was 19. I have worked hard to make something of my life and no longer have the stigma of an ex-offender on me.

So as I said at the start: ‘My Mum always told me throughout my sentence and I urge you to listen: “The prizes in life we fail to win, Is because we doubt the strength within”’

Convictions on your DBS isn’t the end of your employment chances

Some refreshing news for those of us who have convictions that will apparently forever overshadow our possible career ambitions.

The Unlock helpline recently received a call from a person with a very serious conviction (causing death by dangerous driving). The caller had been offered a place at University to study Psychology, and was understandably worried about the DBS check which would be needed as the degree included some work experience placements involving working with vulnerable adult patients.

However, during the course of the conversation the caller revealed that they were already working within the NHS… Upon questioning we learned that their role had indeed required an enhanced DBS check, and that they had got the position anyway, albeit after a stressful and thorough interview process. Basically they had won through by persistence and being both confident and committed enough to give a good, honest and heartfelt account of themselves, and doing everything they could to demonstrate their fundamental decency, integrity, and ultimately – employability.

This is obviously a fantastic and inspirational story. Whilst it may seem to be unusual, perhaps the lesson here is that it is only so unusual because so many people in comparable situations believe that they have literally no remaining chance of their target career, and therefore understandably lack the willpower and sheer audacity to give it a go regardless of their records.

Always remember – the worst that can happen is that you don’t get the job, and you are no worse off than you were before trying. In fact, you could argue that even an unsuccessful outcome can be used as a positive; a learning experience, and a boost of self-esteem and confidence for the fact that you felt able to apply in the first place.

Therefore the message from me is – Go for it, and hold your head up… You have nothing to lose, and plenty to gain.

by Stuart

Working in an airport – Check out the facts and keep at it

by Mary

I would like to share my story with all those individuals who have a criminal conviction and cannot see a positive way forward.

I worked for a luxury brand on the high street and, following three interviews, I management to obtain a position still within my company but at an airport. I was so excited and looking forward to my new role. In 2012 I attended court for an over payment in respect of incapacity benefit which dated back to 2010. To my absolute shock I was convicted and given one hundred hours community service to be completed within 12 months of my conviction. I paid back the money immediately and completed my community service within 5 weeks while still working full time.

I informed my manager of my conviction and they liaised with their HR department. They contacted me to tell me that the job offer was withdrawn, and they also told me that the decision was final and I could not appeal. I put down the phone and my whole world was shattered, I thought this cannot be right and did not know which way to turn. To make things worse and add to my humiliation, company emails were flying around informing senior management that I would not be joining the team at the airport.

Even though I was told that I could not appeal the decision, the whole situation was not sitting well with me at all. I sat up all night and surfed the internet looking for answers, and a way I could turn a “NO you have not got the job”, to “Yes you have”. I ascertained that I needed to apply for a certificate of disregard from The Department for Transport. Within three days I put my case together and submitted it to DFT. I phoned them twice a week to make sure they had all the information that they required and regularly requested an update on my case. It took persistence, drive, focus and faith but, after 4 weeks, I received my Certificate of Disregard in the post!

I was over the moon and I felt like I had won an award! I immediately scanned the document and sent to my employer. It went very quiet for a few days and I waited patiently in anticipation. I received a phone call from my employer informing me that the job offer was reinstated and asking if I still wanted it!

My employer typed a supporting letter which I enclosed with the Certificate of Disregard and I applied for my airside pass, which I am proud to say was granted! I am still at the airport and have passed the highest level of security clearance. I wanted to share my story to inspire other people to fight for their rights and win through. Do not let anyone stand in the way of you and success. I could have simply accepted my employer’s decision and walked away. Instead, I decided to stand up and be counted.

I recently discovered that, due to amendments to the law in March 2014, my conviction is now spent. I would like to thank Debbie from Unlock for this valuable information as under the previous law it would have been five years. I am currently looking for an exciting new job opportunity.

So, thanks to Debbie and Unlock, I feel I can engage my higher self and acquire my desired new job without the threat of rejection and being treated differently to other people.

And remember, do not always take the word of other people, check out the facts for yourself and remember that nothing is impossible.

Coming clean

by Craig

The 1990s were not the most successful years of my life. Even now at a distance of 18 years it is still difficult to see where the success of being elected on to my local Metropolitan Borough Council, and the rapid rise through its hierarchy to the position of Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, gave way to mental illness and serious crime some 5 years later.

In the late 80’s, I had my leg smashed when a car drove through my garden wall crushing me as I opened my front door. In that brief moment my career and way of life was lost. I spent three years and several periods of hospitalisation having my physical injuries repaired. Unfortunately, coming from ‘down-to-earth’ northern stock I refused to recognise the toll that these injuries and my enforced incapacity was having on my mental health. Despite the success at being selected and elected to the council my idea of a career in public service was destroyed by a total nervous breakdown and divorce from my long suffering wife.

In the mid 90’s I was deselected by my party due to drink related incidents that brought shame on me and embarrassment to the party. This came as a result of my refusal to see I was in trouble mentally, as well as physically, and my rejection of the many attempts to offer a helping hand from family and friends. In 1995 with unemployment and divorce a reality, I took the enormous step of moving to London with vague notions of starting again. In London I had several friends who I am proud to say have remained loyal friends to this day. However as my physical health improved my mental health disintegrated and I found myself in July 1996 without money, in rent arrears and in a stubborn mind-set that dictated I would seek no help from any quarter. It was in a state of mental collapse that I decided to solve all my problems by robbing a bank. I have no idea where a 36 year old former councillor and professional man gets the idea that this is a good career move.

It was not, and in a state of agitation and distress I was taken into police custody inside a bank I tried to rob in the City of London. Given the political realities of the 1990s with IRA activities a very real threat, I was lucky not to be killed. Indeed my psychiatrist concluded that my actions could be construed as an attempt at suicide, albeit a subconscious one. In any event given my offences I was treated leniently and was jailed for five years. Prison proved to be an oasis away from drink and unemployment, both of which contribute hugely to depression. I also received the much needed mental health therapy I needed.

In 1999 after two and a half years in prison and two Open University modules completed I was granted parole. Whilst this was welcome I was very aware of the reality of my situation. I was now an ex-con entering middle age with no prospects and no employment. I quickly found work driving a van for a parcel delivery company. This I obtained by ignoring the advice of my probation officer, ticking no on the employment agency application form relating to previous convictions.

I have since realised just how lucky I am not to have been caught doing this as I may well have gone back to prison. However, I did not repeat this dishonesty and set about applying for jobs. I sent out many CVs always including my convictions and a brief description of how they came about. I tried to down play them as far as possible and concentrate on my positive past experiences. I reasoned that if I was lucky enough to get an interview then at least I would have an equal chance at getting the post as the HR department would be in possession of all the facts prior to short listing.

Six months after leaving prison I was called for interview by an advertising company looking to recruit and train advert hands to put up the advertising displays on London Underground. I attended and was astonished at how well the interview went and how positive the panel seemed to view my CV. At the end the chairman and soon to be boss asked me directly if I was a professional criminal or could he believe me that this was an aberration I was not going to repeat. I thought this a fair question and just reiterated what I put in my application. He gave me the job there and then. I was able to pass the Underground’s medical and spent seven happy years there until deterioration of my knee joint forced me to quit. It turned out that my boss had a brother who had done a very similar thing to me and had had an awful time trying to get into employment. He told me he had promised himself if he could he would offer work to ex-offenders.

My next employer was a well-known firm of bookmakers who took me on despite my record, and whilst I had to leave due to a recurrence of mental health issues in 2009, I can honestly say the HR department looked at my record, offered me the job and never referred to it again.

Personally, I would urge anyone with unspent convictions to include them in the application they send to prospective employers and voluntary bodies for two reasons. The first is that an upfront and honest declaration will be received far more favourably than the awkward moment in the interview where the inevitable question is asked about unspent convictions. The second point is related to the first in that whilst there are employers who will reject people with criminal convictions out of hand, it is better they do that at an early stage and not waste your time or give you false hope.

Maybe I have been lucky but, I have had no more trouble getting and keeping jobs than my peers who have no convictions, and I spend my working life working confident in the knowledge that I have nothing to hide.

There is work after convictions and I wish you all good luck in finding it.

Rehabilitation, Rejection and Resilience

by Simon

I was very pleased to find out that the reforms to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) will apply from 10th March. I was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment in March 2004, and thought that I would have to declare my criminal conviction for life but, given the changes, my conviction will now become ‘spent’ – 7 years after my Sentence Expiry Date.

I’ll outline some of the mixed experiences I’ve had, and reactions I’ve faced, when declaring my conviction. Some will resonate with you and some might help prepare others for the challenges ahead.

Initially, I was lucky and did not encounter many barriers to resettlement. A friend offered me labouring work during the day and my old school, who were aware of my imprisonment, gave me cleaning work in the evenings. Seen together, these opportunities – and that’s how they had to be viewed – helped both financially and by providing a routine that kept me busy. Crucially, though, this meant that I didn’t have to run the gauntlet of potential rejection from employers. I wondered how, with such a fragile self-esteem, and having just left prison, I would have coped with further alienation.

After about 18 months my friend could no longer provide any work and the evening job became too much, so I found myself seeking other employment. I went for a ‘front of house’ position in a local café. As I filled the application form out with the manager sat opposite, I saw the dreaded ‘Do you have a criminal record?’ question. I lied and put ‘no.’ I reasoned that it was just a cafe job, and ‘they wouldn’t even begin to understand, if I told them.’ I needed that job.

This lie did not come back and bite me, but that is not the point. My family brought me up to be open and honest – and those are values that I hold dear in principle – but, in practice, and in the heat of the moment, I couldn’t face what I assumed would be a rejection, so I did not tell the truth.

Whilst I would always advocate honesty about a criminal past, I now have an insight and an understanding into why some people decide not to declare. Is it a dishonest nature, an assumption of a bad outcome or a fear of the hurt caused by yet another rejection that can drive certain behaviours?

I left the cafe with my dark secret undiscovered and, luckily, another friend then provided work in a warehouse in Northamptonshire. As with the previous building and cleaning roles, this bypassed the need for a criminal record check and so, by the time I had finished at the warehouse in August 2008, I had held four jobs since prison and had only faced one criminal record check. I wonder whether most people are as fortunate as this?

The ideal exchange between potential employer and employee did occur, however, when I decided to return to University and I would advocate this approach, rather than the method that I adopted with the cafe. I wrote a personal statement outlining my past, in support of my application. I outlined mitigating factors to the offence, but also emphasised the positives prior to and after my imprisonment. Emphasising the good and making the bad appear smaller worked because every University that I applied to offered a place. It was re-assuring to think that people were prepared to give an ex-prisoner a second chance and that an open, upfront letter had won plaudits. It confirmed my suspicions that many people respond to a positive approach in kind.

Life has run reasonably smoothly over the last few years, but I’ve twice needed to ring UNLOCK for advice over two other CRB related incidents. In the first example, I declared my conviction on an application form for a criminology research role in the East of England. I was offered the job, despite my conviction but, later, the human resources people wanted to know more about the offence. So, I attended a second interview, which was incredibly stressful. Thankfully, the charity continued with their offer of employment but, because of the sensitive location and nature of the project, they attached certain conditions: I must not tell my colleague about my past and, for the first month, I had to sit in a separate part of the building, away from the rest of the team.

My line manager and the senior managers were, on balance, very supportive throughout and even they were not sure whether what they were doing was appropriate. I was treated differently because of my conviction and that not only hurt, it re-enforced the sense of ‘difference’ that many people with convictions feel.

In my mind, I had to take a mature approach: ‘play the game;’ be ‘squeaky clean;’ do a good job and learn from my experience.

Things worked out, but only because I communicated how I was feeling and staff kept supporting me. Not every employer and employee dynamic works like this. I feel for those who are not great communicators, feel unsupported or have poor employers. I wonder what the costs are, in psychological terms, of feeling under scrutiny because of your past, and why some people with convictions still have to go the ‘extra mile’?

The second incident is perhaps more commonplace. I signed up at a local recruitment agency, declared my conviction on the application form and was taken onto the books. However, later that day I received a phone call from the recruitment consultant who apologised stating that, at first glance, she had not noticed the tick in the convictions box. She had phoned head office and was sorry to say that I could not be employed. Company policy would not register anyone with convictions regardless of their offence. The consultant, who admittedly was toeing the party line, even said that ‘it doesn’t matter whether you are a murderer or have stolen a pack of sweets, we treat everyone the same.’ UNLOCK said that they had not broken the law but this misguided attempt at equal opportunity, or lack of it, by ‘treating everyone equally’ is not common sense or logical and is obviously an example of the attitudes that some employers hold.

Now that the reforms to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act are a reality, it feels like all the heartache was worth it. I believe if you do the right things, eventually society will do right by you – even if it hasn’t in the past. It’s important to be upfront and honest – at least you maintain your integrity, even if you don’t get that particular job.

I understand taking the moral high ground is little comfort if you’re unemployed, but definitely focus on the positives and try to make the bad stuff appear smaller and less important. Keep going and believe that someone will give you a break somewhere. Research, seek out and network with user-friendly organisations that support people with convictions and always emphasise that you are far more than an offence on a piece of paper.

Working for the NHS

by Nigel

I have convictions for violence (GBH from 8 years ago and a more recent one in 2010) and have recently applied for an IT Position in one of the NHS trusts.

The post is primarily away from patients and hospitals but may occasionally require going in to sort out IT problems, and it involves a DBS check. I did declare the unspent conviction on the original application as there was a section asking this.

I went for an interview, and nothing was mentioned regarding CRB/DBS checks or anything to do with my record. I received a phone call with an offer of employment, and was nervously waiting the dreaded DBS check in the paperwork.

When it came, I completed this fully and truthfully, and ten days later all checks have come back to HR and I have been given the go-ahead to start. I am just waiting on a start date now. This is an NHS trust and I am not sure if other trusts will have different procedures, but it’s good news for me at least and maybe gives others a bit of hope.

Brendan’s Bridge

by Brendan

Not many people I know say that they love their job, but I love mine. I get the opportunity to work with people who are at a pivotal point in their life, where the decisions they make from this point forward can have a massive impact on the rest of their lives. I get the opportunity to try and influence these decisions and show them that they do have options and with hard work, strong willpower and determination and a little support they can make changes.

I found myself at this pivotal point three years ago; my gambling addiction had spiralled out of control once again and I found myself serving a prison sentence for theft from employer. This was my second time inside for the same offence. I had reached my rock bottom. My whole world had been turned upside down again, I had lost my job, my home and everything that I had re-built was shattered. I was lucky enough to still have the support of my now wife and my family. Without this support god knows what I may have done.

I signed up to a vocational training course whilst in prison and couldn’t believe the number of people that were lacking basic functional skills. Men of all ages who could not read or write or perform basic tasks that I took for granted. I found myself spending most of my time on this course helping others with grammar, spelling and basic comprehension. I felt a great sense of achievement each time I was able to offer some help or advice to others and made a decision there and then that this is what I wanted to do for a career.

I was asked to stay on as a Learning Support Assistant for the rest of my time whilst still in Prison, which I gladly did. Once I was discharged from prison I found that there was a similar project being run close to where I lived and I decided that I wanted to continue to be involved, so I became a Volunteer at The Bridge, an alternative to custody project where offenders are given the opportunity to improve their situations by being given access to support, guidance and training.

Becoming a Volunteer wasn’t a straight forward process as Essex Probation had a strict 2 year’s grace policy where they required their volunteers to be “trouble free”. So I wrote to the Head of Essex Probation and as a result they decided to change their policy as they felt that it would be good for the project to have an ex-offender working within it.

I am fortunate enough to have plenty of work experience behind me and fell into a position working as a full time as a Chef, working 5 or 6 days a week whilst volunteering at The Bridge every Wednesday. This went on for about 14 months and during this time I was given access to various training and sent on a PTLLS course which allowed me to become a Tutor. When a position became available to work as a Tutor I immediately applied for it. There were quite a few applicants for the position, but I felt that I had an excellent chance of getting the position as I had the relevant skills, qualities, experience and training. All of which had been provided by the company I wanted to work for.

Well, as you have probably gathered, I got the job and have never looked back. The project is now being run by SOVA on contract to Essex Probation. I feel that I am a valuable part of SOVA and believe that my contributions to the project are worthwhile and have a lasting impact. I am open and honest about my past convictions with participants, and feel that by doing this I am able to reach out to some of the more challenging individuals and offer them some hope so that they can make positive changes in their lives and break the cycle of offending.

Setting the record straight

by Gail*

I am writing to thank you for the advice l received from you which has effectively given me a new lease of life. I was sentenced to 3 years in prison for a one count conviction of Money Laundering in 2007. I was released on tag after and that was that. In 2010, I successfully got a job as a Support Worker and subsequently a Senior Support Worker with a Housing Organisation. I however was called in by my managers who informed me that following a DBS check, my version of events is questionable because my CRB states that I was involved in drugs. It would appear that the generic term for Money Laundering is now drugs? Irrespective, and due to a major reshuffle in the department anyway, I was made redundant.

I then started applying for other jobs, which l knew l was fully qualified for, and even though l say so myself, l interview well. Anyway, I didn’t get two jobs and l was really cut up about it, so l contacted one of the bodies l applied to. It turns out the fact that l was involved in laundering the proceeds of “drugs” was a real hiccup for them. I then called you. You gave me some advice, and gave me the details of who to contact at the DBS. For future reference, my issue was that my offence was Money Laundering. My CRB read “Laundering the proceeds of drugs for another” The man l spoke to sent me out some forms to fill in. He then wrote me back acknowledging the receipt of the forms and advised that he had sent my complaint to the police and they will advise me of the outcome.

That was two weeks ago. Yesterday, I got a response from them advising that my complaint had been upheld and that they will be reissuing me a new DBS with the amended wording. The wording has been amended to “Assisting another to retain or control the benefit of criminal conduct”.

This is a great result for me because not only does it remove the drugs implication for me but it also doesn’t define or label “Money Laundering”. I can now go out there and work, hold my head up high knowing that my past is not tagged to me. Don’t get me wrong, I am not denying what happened. It did and l held my hands up to it. What isn’t fair is that someone can make an arbitrary decision to use unwarranted colourful language to potentially ruin someone else’s life and hamper their chances of employability and moving on.

Junior James; A different deal

by Richard, Editor of theRecord

Junior James is a fascinating man, a ‘larger-than-life’ character who oozes energy and enthusiasm. He’s gone from being a busy, but never happy, drug dealer to a NOMS ‘Service User of the Year’ via a spell inside. He made best use of his time in prison by taking advantage of every training and education opportunity he was given, and is now committed to helping others break out of a criminal lifestyle. However, when going through all this, he became aware of one of the major shortcomings with what is on offer for prisoners and was recently quoted in The Voice on-line as saying that it would be particularly useful for courses on entrepreneurship to be available.

Now, ‘entrepreneur’ can mean any number of things in reality, from the likes of Richard Branson and the ‘Dragons’ in TV’s den to someone running a hot-dog stall at a festival or setting up a shelter for the homeless . So I rang him to ask him what he meant: “Being self-employed, mate. That’s the crux of it. It’s all very well giving training courses and helping people getting qualifications, but if you’ve got a record, no-one’s gonna want to employ you, so you’ve got to do it yourself.” And, by and large, he’s right. As we chat we agree that there are a few enlightened employers out there, but not many. We agree that what people need is to learn how to run a business either for just themselves or to employ others. And anyone who’s tried it will tell you it’s not all plain sailing and counting your money. A very high proportion of new businesses go under in the first three years and there’s a lot to learn and a lot at stake. And preparation and knowing what you’re getting yourself into is key to success.

So, keen make best use of his time, put right past mistakes, encourage other not to get involved in dealing and to put his money where his mouth is, Junior took to writing. He first started in prison, showed a few pages to a few mates, got some good feedback about this wit and his style and so carried on. He writes about his life and the way he used to live in in a way that gets to the truth of the paranoia, the fear and the stress that is so often overlooked by young people who see only the money, the status and the bling on offer with a coke-dealer’s trade. He’s funny, direct and real and he’s working on his third book now. The first two, Different, Parts 1 & 2, are available on his website: www.juniorjames.co.uk. Check him out, he’s different.