Recycling bikes with Inside Out

Ever thought, "Why don't prisoners do something useful with their time"? Margaret Carey turned thoughts into action.

Amanda Lane, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at American Express, and Margaret Carey with a chess set made by IOT for sale in aid of Victim Support.

In 1993, Ashtead resident Margaret Carey set up the Inside Out Trust, which aims to improve prospects for prisoners and reduce their likelihood of re-offending.

"IOT believes that people in our prisons, whose lives have often been negative and chaotic, should be given opportunities to contribute to the needs of others," says Margaret.

Using inmates' skills, the Trust has helped establish projects in over 60 prisons. These range from translating and refurbishing Braille books, to repairing bikes, sewing machines and motorbikes.

Recently a group of prisoners refurbished some children's pedal cycles for a special needs school. The school was later burgled and all the cycles stolen. The prisoners were so upset that they addressed the thieves through the local newspaper saying, "We feel it despicable what you have done to these children… Your actions leave prisoners here and the staff at the school beyond belief."

The Ashtead Rotary Club is helping the project by collecting bicycles, manual sewing machines and PCs (386 and above) for the IOT. For more information contact David Mitchell-Baker 274276 or Peter Longhurst 815626.

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