Bars 2 Business
About Bars 2 Business
Bars to Business is a social impact initiative that supports prisoners to build purpose-driven businesses across diverse sectors. We believe that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for rehabilitation, offering individuals not just financial independence, but a renewed sense of purpose and identity. Our mission is to create an ecosystem of businesses for good — ventures that make a positive difference in their communities while helping reduce reoffending, challenge stigma, and unlock untapped potential. At Bars to Business, we don’t just build businesses — we build futures.
A Word From
Stacey Wragg
I started Bars to Business because I've always believed in the people that society tends to forget. People who have made mistakes - Sometimes serious ones - but who still have potential, talent, and a desire to change
The Lightbulb Moment
It all started as a simple idea. Take unused fabrics that would have gone to landfill, create beautiful, handmade, patchwork teddies from inside prison. Every Teddy that is bought, its pair - it's twin - goes to a child living in poverty, sharing half a heart with the other.
The Culture
Halving your heart isn't just cute, it's deeply meaningful. In Irish Culture, if you truly care about someone, you give them half your heart. That's what each Teddy symbolises, compassion, generoisty, and a belief we are all better when we are connected.
This Matters
Prisoners such as Paddy have been pouring their own heart into this. Not just stitching bears, but building something that gives them a future to aspire towards. The prisoners involved shaped this idea from within the system, they're not just participants, they're founders.
This is about more than just Teddies, it's about creating and ecosystem where people coming out of prison can support eachother, find meaningful work, and actually stay out.
Reoffending Rates are still high
The stats on reoffending are around 26% for adults and 33% for young people. Education and Entrepreneurship can change that trajectory, reducing reoffence rates by 20% to 40%.
We're talking about building something that gives people control over their lives.
79% of people in prison say they would like to start their own business, compared to 40% in the general public.
The appetite is there, the potential is there, they are just waiting for someone to believe in them.
17% of people
In employment post-release from prison
50% of people
Less likely to reoffend post-release if in work
