The fresh snow has settled on the branches in the forest, and it is freezing cold at Lavollen just outside the center of Trondheim. But even if the snow sprinkles down on the jackets of a group of woodcutters, the job will still be done. – This is a fantastic job, says one of the men after another tree has been felled. Out of respect for his son, he does not wish to be named. – Right now we are thinning out the forest for Trondheim city management. We remove all the firs and thin out so that only birch, willow and rowan remain. The hope is that we can graze here in the summer, he says. Falling out of working life The keen woodcutter has worked in Hogst since 2020. But it was far from certain that he would get a permanent job. 15 years of drugs, alcohol and prison had taken their toll. During the last penitentiary, he was unsure of what to do with his life. It was then that he came into contact with Hogst AS. The company recruits former inmates from the prison. – I didn’t think that when I was in prison, that I would get out and get permanent work. I am extremely grateful for the chance, he says. It is not a matter of course to leave prison and go straight into working life. Auditor General Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen has criticized several for doing too poor a job of helping former prisoners return to society. Photo: Svend Even Hærra / news In October, the National Audit Office criticized both the Correctional Service and the welfare services because the cooperation between them does not work. – This weakens the possibilities for a successful return to society, says Auditor General Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen. Nav has no record of how many of the inmates have a job to go to after completing their sentence. In 2017, five ministries decided that they would implement 18 measures to help inmates return to society. The National Audit Office found that very little of this was carried out. – Many of those who are released are left without income, work and housing and with greater debt than they had when the sentence started. It is a neglect both with regard to the promiscuous and to society, says Schjøtt-Pedersen. Here, the previous occupant is busy pruning a tree that has just been felled. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news Socially useful work It is against this background that Hogst AS was started six years ago. The idea came from Stian Estenstad in the Red Cross, who contacted Trønderenergi. The power company saw that here they could kill two birds with one stone. They could be involved in helping people return to society – and at the same time get work done that many people benefit from. Daily tenant in Hogst, Vegard Nytrø, says former employees come to them from Nav or they contact the company directly to hear about the chances of getting a job. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news – We actually do everything possible. Today we are at Lavollen in Trondheim doing cultural landscape care. At the same time, we do some work on clearing power lines for grid companies, daily manager Vegard Nytrø in Hogst tells us. Those who wish to try their hand can take part in a three-month long course. Here, the former get an introduction to working life. In addition, they receive training in using chainsaws and other equipment. After the course, there is an opportunity to get a permanent job. – The people we have trained and got into permanent employment show that it works. It’s awesome, says Nytrø. – Means everything For the formerly drug-addicted logger, the job has been an important part of getting his life back on track. – It means an insane amount. I am extremely grateful for the chance, he says. Now he also goes to school to get a diploma together with four colleagues. – It is very good to have something to do during the day. It is important because I have a son. It is important for him to see that dad goes to work – How important is the chance you have been given here? – It means everything to me and my son, he says before falling silent. The woodcutters in Hogst hope to clear the area around Lavollen enough that animals can be put out to graze for the summer. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news
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At least in Trondheim, only former inmates and old drug addicts are watched – news Trøndelag
