TOWIE star James Lock backs Clink project to help prisoners

TOWIE star James Lock said he was supporting prisoners retraining in the restaurant business after seeing how difficult it was for friends leaving jail to rebuild their lives.

The reality star, who runs health food venue Lockie’s Kitchen in Romford, took over The Clink restaurant in HMP Brixton for a day to raise more than £2,000 to help set up the charity’s next training project.

The Clink runs restaurants in four jails where inmates cook for and serve the public. Prisoners train towards catering NVQ qualifications to help them find jobs as waiters and chefs after their sentences end. The charity’s training projects have a 41 per cent success rate in reducing reoffending.

The Clink at Brixton is currently fourth out of 17,932 London restaurants on TripAdvisor. Lock said: “I had a really good upbringing but I could so easily have taken a wrong turn and ended up in trouble. I saw some close mates get into crime when I was growing up and one or two ended up in prison.

“I’ve visited them and I can see what a tough time they have, especially when it comes to starting again once they’re out. This is why I have started working with The Clink. I want to raise the profile of a charity that helps prisoners come out to a better life and not reoffend.”

Lock, whose girlfriend is The Only Way Is Essex co-star Yazmin Oukhellou, held the Lunch With Lockie event this month with a sell-out 120 covers. Writer Rob McGibbon interviewed him in front of diners.

Lock said: “It was an incredible experience. The inmates are a great bunch of lads to work with, dedicated and hardworking, and they served up a delicious meal. They’re true pros.”

Since launching the first Clink Restaurant at HMP High Down, in Sutton, in 2009, more than 800 prisoners have graduated from its training projects.