Bobby Cummines FRSA | Chief Executive

Bobby Cummines FRSA

Chief Executive

If you would like to contact Bobby,

T: 01634 247350
E: enquiries@unlock.org.uk

Key Advisory Roles

1. Specialist advisor to Mr Justice Keith in the Zahid Mubarek Public Inquiry (appointed by Home Secretary)
2. Member of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (chaired Rt Hon John Denham MP)
3. Expert Witness to House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee on Prisoner Education 
4. NOMS South East Regional Reducing Re-offending Delivery Board - Member
5. EXODUS Management Board, (ESF Equal funded, SEEDA managed) - Member
6. ODPM Advisory Group – Member

Key Executive Achievements

• Successfully campaigned with PRT against the blanket ban on voting rights for prisoners
• Established Esteem Insurance to provide a range of insurance products to ex-offenders and individuals living with ex-offenders who face exclusion from the general market
• Established independent specialist mortgage services for ex-offenders
• Established pilot project with HBOS to provide basic bank accounts to serving prisoners
• Secured £285m of private investment for the UNLOCK “Centres of Excellence” project to develop an education and skills-focused alternative to prison and affordable housing
• Established relationships with a wide variety of faith-based organisations, including a partnership with Pecan to assist ex-offenders into employment
• Lead the charity’s financial development, increasing its wealth by 250 times over 5 years
• Keynote speaker for various organisations including NOMS, Prison Service Chaplaincy, Probation Service, Parole Board, Youth Justice Board, CiPD, NHS, University of Plymouth, various state and private schools, colleges and Student Unions
• “Combating Crime in the Community”, Isle of Sheppey youth project giving anti-crime and drugs presentations in schools and pupil referral units (with YOT, Police, Social Services)
• Total Impact Course, deglamorising crime in the juvenile estate (with YMCA, Kent Police)

Work Experience

• Chief Executive - UNLOCK, 2002 – Present               

• Deputy Chief Executive - UNLOCK, 1999 - 2002
  Founder member and media spokesperson

• On-Call Critical Response Team - Stonham Housing Association, 1993 - 1999
  Dealing with hostage negotiatons, suicide management and other crisis interventions with ex-offenders and mental health clients
  South East Regional Union Representative for MSF

• Purchasing  Manager - Van Gell Systems, Holland, 1991 - 1993
  Electrical system component manufacturer
  Managed UK purchasing budget of £5m per annum

• Volunteer - SOVA, 1989 - 1990
  Supporting ex-offenders and their families in the reintegration into society following release from prison
  Awarded volunteer of the year by Kent Probation Service

• Criminal & Prisoner, 1969 - 1988

Education

• Housing Studies BSc. (Hons)
• Greenwich University, UK          
• Part-time 2 years completed

Personal Achievements and Positions

• Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
• Shortlist Judge for the Morgan Stanley “Great Britons” Awards 2004, 2005
• Sessional Lecturer at Kent University Media
• Regular contributor to BBC, Sky and ITV television, radio and national newspapers
• Continuing to provide personal one-to-one advice ex-offenders and serving prisoners