Socks, shower gel,and second chances

Sometimes the simplest choices deliver the greatest impact…

Father’s Day came around again this week, and like most dads, the fact that it matters to the kids is enough reason for me to celebrate it.

A couple of days beforehand, I’d given mine a gentle steer… socks and shower gel, please.

Nothing fancy, nothing that’ll end up at the back of the junk drawer, just something useful.

Sunday morning arrives and down come the children, proudly clutching their offerings. I unwrap a pack of socks: perfect, exactly what I need. Next, shower gel: again, practical and spot-on. Then two chocolate oranges appear, another easy win. Even Grace, away on holiday in Turkey, remembered to send a message, which is as good as any gift. Five gifts from three kids, not a bad haul.

We spent the rest of the day down at Stokes Bay, Gosport, with my dad, who’s 82 and still going strong. We walked the dogs along the shore and it struck me that it’s the simplest things that make the biggest difference. At this stage in life, I’d rather have something I can genuinely use than clutter that’ll gather dust. Practicality might not seem exciting, but often it’s the best choice.

Which brings me neatly to Thursday and our thought leadership event at the Old Bailey. After months of careful planning – thanks especially to Annelies, who did the heavy lifting behind the scenes – we brought together some truly impressive individuals. CEOs, MPs, and even Lord John Stevens, former Met Police Commissioner, came along to discuss how we can transform repeat offenders into valuable employees.

This is important stuff. Did you know 56.6% of adults released from short-term custodial sentences reoffend within a year? Clearly our current approach isn’t delivering the results we want.

On our panel, we had James Timpson OBE who’s spent the last twenty years championing second chances. Paul Cowley MBE from Iceland Foods joined virtually, sharing insights into their Second Chance initiative. Stuart Toogood, Gareth Lewis, Duncan O’Leary, and Chief Inspector Marcus Cator each contributed their unique perspectives on rehabilitation and employment.

Hosting at the Old Bailey was intentional. How many people have passed through those doors without a real second chance? If we can approach this pragmatically – like the socks and shower gel – we might just find solutions that genuinely work.

I firmly believe businesses have a role here, not only because it’s morally right, but because it makes commercial sense. ASEL is already looking at how we can lead from the front, how do we become another catalyst for change within our sector? The potential is significant, especially if we engage more closely with our customers and retail partners.

Simple yet thoughtful choices often yield the best outcomes. And that’s exactly what we’ll focus on at ASEL: small, strategic actions that make a real difference. Because ultimately, it’s not about grand gestures. It’s about making practical changes that last.

Peter Fisher

Director of Risk & Intelligence