A reformed prisoner has said working for a not-for-profit company after ten years of unemployment has changed his life.

Keith Forgie, 51, whose last conviction was for armed robbery, had spent 26 years in and out of prison and when he was released ten years ago his job prospects were minimal.

As well as having a criminal record he was unable to read and write and had no qualifications.

He spent his time looking for work, receiving treatment for depression and sitting around the house.

But then Mr Forgie decided to learn the most basic skills by going back to school.

One NVQ later Mr Forgie was taken on by Ed Hall, managing director of Green Skills Ltd in Manningham.

The Bradford company, which was set up in January, takes on people who are unemployed, disabled, looking for work experience or wanting to volunteer.

The group takes on landscape gardening projects and construction work at schools, community centres and private projects across the district.

By providing workers with new abilities and confidence Green Skills is being used as a stepping-stone to other work.

Mr Forgie said the organisation, which places emphasis on team-work and sharing, had restored his confidence.

"We discuss things, there is no captain of the ship, we talk ideas and problems out between us and we work things out," he said.

Mr Forgie, who had worked in construction in the past, said he was able to give something back after taking so much.

"It was take, take, take from the Government, from everybody.

"I feel I'm actually putting something back into society now," he said.

The job had not just turned around his working day but had made a difference to his life as a whole. "I come out and go to work and then I'm pleased to go home. I have got a better relationship with my children and grandchildren, we are one happy family like we should have been years ago," he said.

Mr Forgie said his home life began to change when he started the college course.

"My children and grandchildren took the mickey out of me because I was going back to college, but they gave me a hand with my homework. They were 100 per cent behind me. I'm just so pleased with myself and I can't thank Ed enough," he said.

Single mother Angela Clegg, 45, of Bierley, took on an administration placement at Green Skills as part of a training scheme to get her back into work after 16 years looking after her daughter.

She impressed Mr Hall so much with her abilities that she was offered a permanent job at Green Skills.

Miss Clegg, who has arthritis, said Green Skills was the kind of place which accepted everybody and anybody, no matter their background or history.

"It's like a family-run firm. It's just a brilliant place to work. They are really understanding. It's really transformed my life," she said.

Mr Hall said the beauty of Green Skills was the mix of experience brought to the job.

"The people who work here all have their own stories. It's so rewarding working with them," he said.

Mr Hall said he had received a great deal of advice and knowledgeable support from agencies such as Business Link for West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire Enterprise Link, ATL Centre for Enterprise, all of which are part funded by Yorkshire Forward.

"I have relied on them to help me through the whole process," he said.

To contact Green Skills telephone Mr Hall on 07939 559 205 or e-mail: admin.greenskills@tiscali.co.uk