Fresh Start. Work. Worth. A second chance

Fresh Start bring employers and ex-offenders together, creating sustainable career pathways and reshaping lives.

Tempus Novo, an organisation experienced in helping people with criminal records find work and stay in jobs. They use a strong support model that includes:

• Personalised checks and assessments
• Direct help engaging with employers
• Mentoring for both the organisation and employee
• Ongoing support if problems arise

Tempus Novo staff will be based in across the county, in Warrington, Chester, Runcorn and Crewe working alongside probation teams to make the support personalised and effective.

The scheme aims to:

• Refer hundreds of people on probation into tailored employment support
• Place 100 people into stable jobs between September 2025 – September 2026
• Provide one year of support after each job placement to help people succeed long-term
• Build strong, supportive links with local employers ready to give second chances

Local businesses are a key part of this. May are already taking part and offering jobs, with Chester Zoo amongst the first employers offering jobs to people ready to make a fresh start in roles like customer services and warehousing. This benefits both the local economy and community safety.

If you’re a business who wants to get involved by offering jobs, or you want to find out more information contact Tempus Novo ross@tempusnovo.org (opens email application) referencing Cheshire’s Fresh Start programme.

This approach is more than just a jobs scheme. It’s a practical way to reduce re-offending, strengthen local businesses and make Cheshire safer for all residents.