Tap Social Movement Making beer to make a difference
If you’re based in Oxford then you’ll no doubt be very familiar with the work and taste of local brewery Tap Social, but if you’re further afield then the brewery’s movement may be unfamiliar, but growing at a rapid rate. Now situated across three sites in the historical city, Tap Social works with people who have been affected by the criminal justice system by employing and training them in the world of hospitality. We spoke to founder and Director Tess Taylor to find out more.
Images courtesy of Tap Social
Tell me a little about why you started Tap Social Movement? “Tap Social was founded out of a passion for social justice and good beer. We’re a social enterprise craft brewery and hospitality organisation that trains and employs people who have been affected by the criminal justice system; both currently serving prisoners and people who have been recently released from prison sentences. My co-founders Amy, Paul and I all worked in criminal justice for several years before setting up Tap. I was a counsellor for ex-offenders with a non-profit organisation in Canada, Amy was a policy advisor with the Ministry of Justice, and Paul is a criminal barrister. Between us, we’d seen first-hand the devastating impact of a broken justice system, with a major lack of support and opportunity 11
