A joint venture between The Oswin Project and HMP Northumberland operators Sodexo, will see the expansion of the Oswin commercial bakery enterprise thanks to grant funding from Scottish Power, The Community Foundation, St Hilda’s Trust, The Convey Trust and the O’Flaherty Foundation.
This latest step will see the expansion of the existing and successful commercial bakery through the transformation of a disused prison kitchen into state-of-the-art new premises. This will allow The Oswin Project to meet the ever-growing demand for its highly popular bread, pies, quiches and cakes, and to expand its outside catering offer plus add new lines.
Additional Training Places
Run by a mix of professional staff and volunteers it will also allow the charity to offer up to an additional 20 training places to serving prisoners taking the total number to up to 30 working in the Catering Enterprises in HMP Northumberland. These candidates will gain food safety qualifications as well as learning specialised baking techniques suitable for any Bakery.
An official opening to celebrate the commencement of the project took place today (3rd September 2026) in the prison, providing invited guests and sponsors with the chance to see the new facilities.
Oswin baked goods are already available in the Café 16s which are located within HMP Northumberland and Newcastle Cathedral, as well as in the prison-based farm shop and through local outlets including Lesbury community shop, The Alnwick Garden and Foxton Golf Club. Ingredients will continue to be sourced locally wherever possible.
The Oswin Project
Successful Northeast based charity, The Oswin Project provides an award-winning rehabilitation programme which seeks to break the cycle of reoffending by providing those with criminal records with the skills, support, and opportunities needed to build positive new futures.
Fiona Sample, Chief Executive Officer at The Oswin Project, said: “We all want safer communities and fewer victims of crime, that is why the Oswin Project’s Baking out project is so important. Through giving prisoners, the opportunity to work and learn, underpinned by mentoring, we put a wedge in the revolving door of reoffending. Currently 80% of prisoners are on return trips to prison.
“The Oswin Project reoffending rate is just 3% against the national average of 38%, what we do works! Why successive Government’s persist in thinking that building more prison places is the answer is baffling. It is an incredibly expensive and ineffective option. At Baking Out in partnership with HMP Northumberland we aim to change this – one loaf, one pie, one tray bake at a time.”
Vicky Robinson, Director at HMP Northumberland, said: “We are proud of the long-standing partnership we have built with The Oswin Project, which has helped design a truly rehabilitative offer at Northumberland. The new bakery is a fantastic addition to an already diverse portfolio of purposeful activities we provide our prisoners. Baking Out is a brilliant initiative, which unlocks more opportunities for prisoners to gain the skills, experiences, and confidence that will prepare them for employment and a positive future on release.”
