In at the Foundations of Prison Learning

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 03, 2010 -
Prospects has been invited to join the planning team for learning provision in the new youth offender institution being built at Belmarsh high security prison in Woolwich.

The youth offender institution, Isis, is the first public sector prison to be built in 20 years and will be wholly independent from Belmarsh.  It is expected to open summer 2010 with capacity for 624 male offenders the pilot age group of 18 to 24.

Lisa Smitherman is the new Governor and her vision is to have learning at the heart of prison activity.  There will be a high number of learning pods, workshops, interview suites and facilities to support learning and wellbeing programmes.  Prospects is working closely with Kensington and Chelsea College, the learning provider, on embedding information, advice and guidance (IAG) services.

Both organisations are working closely with the Learning and Skills Council and the prison authority to bid in to the National Offender Management Service for funds to develop and support the learning and skills provision, including careers, information, advice and guidance.  Prospects’ unique approach in combining aspects of the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) with careers and job hunting skills will help offenders deal with restrictive behaviours, improve motivation and set goals.

Lisa Smitherman set out the institutions innovative blueprint for learning: “A new and different approach is proposed that is highly tailored to individuals’ skills, employment and resettlement needs, creating a motivational and inclusive approach to activities that will reduce the likelihood of an individual to re-offend. This radical approach includes designing all aspects of the prison operation and regime as part of the learning environment and culture for both the offenders and staff. How learning is approached and delivered will be key in achieving a productive change to an individual’s behaviour, expectations and aspirations.”

Steve Sheward, a Prospects CBT and IAG trained professional who is engaged on the project, remarked: “It is a real privilege to be working closely with the Governor and her team, who are truly inspirational in their approach. By putting learning with advice and guidance at the centre of the prison activity, Isis is breaking new ground and offering offenders a life changing opportunity.”