Economist leads board at prisons charity

The Clink Charity, which retrains prisoners to help reduce reoffending, has appointed Bojana Ignjatovic as the next chair of its board.

The former Office of Fair Trading economic advisor replaces the charity’s founder Finlay Scott, who has been chair for the last 15 years.

Ignjatovic has been a trustee at the charity since 2018 and until last year had spent 15 years as a partner at RBB Economics.

The charity originally started as a single restaurant to train prisoners and reduce reoffending.

It now operates nationally through 33 prison kitchens and two gardens. Its prison-based restaurants are open to the public and it also operate a bakery at HMP Brixton.

She takes charge of the charity amid an overhaul of prisons policy by the new Labour government, which is looking to reduce the prison population to counter an over crowding crisis.

Keir Starmer also appointed Timpson’s chief executive James Timpson, a vocal supporter of schemes to tackle reoffending, as prisons minister.

“Though the impact of the charity has grown hugely, its purpose has not changed,” said Ignjatovic.

“The ‘revolving door’ of reoffending where a large proportion of people released from prison go on to reoffend and be reincarcerated, lets down the people that we imprison – and society as a whole.

“What has always inspired me about The Clink is that we strive to help individuals in prison to change their lives and, in doing so, change society’s perception of people in prison.

“I know that the recipe for success is for The Clink to continue to be run with this same energy and ethos that Finlay established. I also know that we have a hugely experienced Board and senior management team who all share in this vision and that we will all work tirelessly to preserve and continue his legacy.”

The charity is set to open a Clink College and new training facility in South London this year.

Scott added: “It has been a huge honour to oversee the success of The Clink for 15 wonderful years, alongside a truly brilliant team, and I know it will continue to thrive under Bojana’s stewardship.”