Prison learning network case studies

 

There are more than 900 non-governmental organisations tirelessly working within prisons and out in the community addressing the most significant aspects in the reducing re-offending arena. Here we showcase some of the fantastic initiatives that focus particularly on the area of offender learning and skills.

 

BeOnsite


BeOnsite is a fresh approach to addressing the skills shortage and delivering sustainable construction jobs and training to the communities we work within. There are three strands to BeOnsite; job brokerage, supported employment and training, which are open to all those over 18 years; there are no barriers to getting involved. The jobs on offer are diverse - from manual labour construction work through to office-based administration. Their trainees come from wide and varied backgrounds and don't need any prior experience - they deal with your training.

 

Foundation Training Company (FTC)


FTC works within prisons and out in the community delivering bespoke programmes aimed at reducing re-offending by providing information, advice & guidance, liaison with community based agencies and training packages focused on providing realistic opportunities post release.

FTC builds and develops partnerships with other organisations working with serving prisoners and ex-offenders with the sole aim of providing the best possible outcome for the individuals with whom we work.

 

Prison Radio Association - Electric Radio Brixton


Prison radio provides a unique and innovative way to engage prisoners in education, particularly those hard to reach offenders disenfranchised from the education system. By completing a radio training course, offenders can expect to gain recognised qualifications and existing education courses within prisons can be enhanced by the use of radio production techniques. The training can assist in the development of a range of skills including measurable improvements in literacy, numeracy and ICT and can contribute towards the development of 'transferable life skills', essential to successful integration into mainstream society.

 

St Giles Trust


St Giles Trust believes that poverty, exclusion and homelessness are some of the reasons behind re-offending and crime. Their work harnesses the skills and experience of prisoners to provide peer-led services within prisons and out in the community which break the cycle of offending by supporting people from social exclusion towards positive and sustainable futures.

 

Toe by Toe


Toe by Toe is a mentoring tool that helps to dramatically improve a persons reading age. The Shannon Trust provides copies of Toe by Toe to prisons free of charge and, once the scheme is up and running, the administration is all done by the prisoners themselves and prison officers' only need to loosely monitor the process.

 

To recommend an initiative, contact the Prisons team - prisons@rsa.org.uk