Our Experience of Working with Offenders Darren Hankey Hartlepool College of FE Teesside LOP 06 May 2011

OUTLINE How it all started The early challenges (Un)intended outcomes of project 1 – the SFA project Project 2 – the LSIS project – including outcomes Overall reflections

HOW IT ALL STARTED About May 2009 Principal’s links with a college in Kent SFA/ESF bid for HMP Holme House – Something a bit different – Vocationally focused – Prison industries: Waste Management, Laundry Operations, Horticulture, Forklift Truck

SO We put in a bid – July 2009 – Focus on Multi-Skills Construction – We made reference to the Prison Industries The bid was accepted – August 2009 Then – Multi-Skills Construction catered for – Prison Industries must be the focus Fight or flight? – We fought!!

THE EARLY CHALLENGES Staffing – Open Event – Recruitment and Selection – Excellent staff Curriculum approval – New areas – Specialist equipment Access to Holme House – Stringent procedures – One of the initial team didn’t get through – Delays to the start of delivery

OUTCOMES Stars of the show – Forklift Truck Operations – Laundry Operations In-prison targets – 118 participated out of a target of 110 – 64 achieved a qualification (+ 37 ‘in-house’ certificates) out of a target of 59 Performed well, but lessons learnt – Horticulture – Waste Management – Wood Machining Out-of-prison targets – 17 participated in further learning upon release out of a target of 44 – Employment upon release has been an issue

OTHER UNINTENDED OUTCOMES An entry into new curriculum areas which can be delivered outside of the prison environment Unsolicited work in these areas Access to the network of organisations involved with offender learning HMP Kirklevington Grange – Waste Management – Synergies with other College partners – A community allotment – Further opportunities for collaboration and partnership working

THE LSIS PROJECT Equality and Diversity – Offenders – LLDD Aims – Voluntary work on the College/LA community allotment – Practical Horticulture Skills – Development of ‘softer’ skills – Improved community confidence More early setbacks – Bid initially turned down – Horticulture staff left – Bad weather

OUTCOMES 13 engaged with the project 11 obtained either an Award, Certificate or Diploma in Practical Horticulture Skills All reported an increase in their ‘softer’ skills Community confidence increased – Other allotment users – Local business supplied – Residents helped – Open Event: 28 April

OVERALL REFLECTIONS An experience that will stay with all those involved A network of excellent organisations and professionals Hopefully, a platform for more work in the sector Hard work, but massively rewarding especially in terms of seeing learners develop “Isn’t this what we came into education for, Darren?”

Any Questions?