What We Do
Positive Changes (Scotland) CIC is a social enterprise supporting women with convictions as they journey towards new beginnings.
Through the making and selling of our delicious chocolates branded as Grace Chocolates changing lives the women enrich their CV by learning workplace skills, earning qualifications and improving their teamworking skills. We welcome any woman who has touched the criminal justice system. We work in partnership with HMP Cornton Vale where women coming towards the end of their sentence who qualify for community placement join us on regular production days which supports their transition back into the community. Women who have been in custody and are now living in the community and women who received non-custodial sentences can self-refer or be referred by their worker to join any of our 4 programmes.
It’s more than what we do. It’s how we do it that’s important. Many women in the justice system have lived experience of abuse, trauma or neglect and live with mental ill health. Each has their own story but there is a common thread of low self-esteem and lack of confidence in each of them. To help them grow in confidence, build resilience and self-belief we work in a positive learning environment where mistakes are an opportunity for learning and personal growth.
Making Positive Changes
For 2 days per week over a 6-week period the women gain qualifications, build transferable workplace skills – listening and team working skills; life skills – relationship building, goal and boundary setting skills as well as the opportunity to build a support network around themselves. By operating in a positive learning environment we also help them identify their goals and ambitions and achieve personal growth while they progress towards achieving their full potential.
For more info on our previous Making Positive Changes programmes – read our reports:
RISE Mentoring Programme
Mentoring is known to help the person being mentored to grow in confidence, self-awareness, build better communication skills and learn to self-reflect through exposure to new and different perspectives. Each woman is paired with a highly trained mentor who supports and encourages her to identify her goals and ambitions in order that she may maximise her potential, develop life skills and become the person she wants to be.
Health & Wellbeing Workshops
Started during the first lockdown these online workshops help the women across the country with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Each session can be accessed as a standalone session or as part of the series where the women learn mindfulness, selfcare and relaxation techniques. Regular classes and connecting with others help overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness as many of the women live alone.
Work Experience
The women join us on regular production days where they quickly become valued members of the team. There are always jobs to be done but to begin to learn to make the chocolates they must first achieve their food hygiene certificate. For many this is the first qualification they have achieved…ever! By becoming a member of the production team they learn transferable workplace skills and valuable team working skills. We operate a positive learning environment where mistakes are an opportunity for learning. Through encouragement and self-reflection they develop pride in their work. It is a privilege to watch them grow is self-esteem and confidence and flourish towards their true potential.
