The Good Prison AwardFor prisons and young offender institutions that can demonstrate innovation and excellence in reducing re-offending through person-centred approaches

Entry form

Contents

The Good Prison Framework…………………………………………………………………………………………2

Part One. Examples of work within each category of the Good Prison Framework……....3

Part Two. Overall example of excellence and innovation………………………………………………9

Part Three. Your plan for the prize money…………………………………………..……………………….11

Example of an entry to Part One…………………………………………………………………………………..12

Rules and procedures……………………………………………………………..……………………………………13

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The Good Prison Framework

The Good Prison Award uniquely recognises holistic achievement by prisons or young offender’s institution in delivering a range of person-centred interventions that evidence shows to be effective in reducing re-offending.

The Good Prison Framework that forms the entry criteria for the competition is based on 4 years’ research in developing PrisonerActionNet (used by over 3,200 practitioners and 100 prisons) and on a comprehensive review of literature on desistance and transitions from crime.

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Part One. Examples of work within each Good Prison Framework category

What are you most proud of in each of the 12 framework categories? What’s worked well and why? Please do not exceed 250 words in each of the 12 categories.

1. Building positive identity

1.1 Self-expression and reflection through the arts

E.g. Visual art courses, drama workshops, music sessions…HMP High Down participates in the Art and Poetry Exhibition at the local Library and has done every year since 2002. Local advertisements are published to prisoners, who are encouraged to enter their submissions. The preparation period is around Christmas time and is a great opportunity for them to express their feelings and thoughts in a safe and meaningful way. All successful entries are put to a public vote and offenders are able to win prizes for their pieces.The entries of this self-expression and reflection can be in any art form, from a picture or family, friends and the local community admires painting to poetry and this artwork publicly. The Art and Poetry Exhibition are supported by local councils, MPs and have often invited special guests to come and present the winning entries with prizes.

The sense of accomplishment and pride this gives the offenders is astonishing and the attitude and commitment demonstrated by each of the offenders is rewarding in itself.

The exhibition is videoed and played back to the offenders here at High Down. Visitors to the library have the opportunity to comment on the artwork in the Visitors Book, which is then brought back to High Down for the offenders look at.Each year, a book is published of the work in the exhibition. In 2012 for the first time the costs of that production are being covered through sales of it in The Clink restaurant, bringing prisoners’ talents to the attention of over 10,000 guests each year.

1.2 Interests and activities that encourage mindfulness

E.g. Victim awareness courses, teaching counseling skills to prisoners…The Forgiveness Project is a programme that works to resolve conflict by developing empathy and helping prisoners consider how their actions have affected people and what might be done to repair the harm.The aim of the course is not to compel people to forgive but to explore the role of forgiveness in the lives of prisoners by using personal testimonies, PowerPoint, film, life-line activity and discussion in both large and small groups about what forgiveness and restorative justice system mean, both generally and individually. HMP High Down has run this programme since September 2007 and during that time 724 prisoners have completed the course in full, with an additional 327 completing the first part of the course. The course has been jointly funded by the prison and philanthropic donations, with the prison supporting the charity’s fundraising, and facilitating research into its effectiveness.

Recent research undertaken on the effective of The Forgiveness Project has stated that “TFP is time and again, identified as being different, as allowing prisoners and staff to step out of the normal roles required within incarceration. It fundamentally appears as a humanizing, empowering intervention that provoked very strong support in evaluation participants.”

One prisoner who has undertaken the course said the following, “I’m not one for courses, because there is a lot of mumbo jumbo spoken, especially by the prisoners because they say what they think they should. This course was entirely different.” Another prisoner said, “The course provides the tools to vastly improve the quality of life,

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reduce sometimes dangerous levels of anger and also general negativity. I started to look at things differently.”

1.3 Improving attitudes and cognitive behaviour

E.g. Self-esteem courses, anger management courses, meditation…High Down runs a number of courses that seek to improve attitudes. One example is the Geese Theatre “Insult to Injury” programme. Geese are a team of actors and group workers who present interactive drama and conduct workshops for prisons. The company believes that drama is a powerful and effective vehicle for inviting individuals to examine their own behaviour and as a catalyst for promoting personal development and change. Insult to Injury is for men with an acknowledged and persistent history of violent offending. Using some of Geese's tried and tested theatrical metaphors, the programme invites participants to explore the process of violence, how it operates for them and to practice skills in order to avoid future violent offending. They run regular course in High Down and prisoners who have taken part in this course have given the following feedback: “I’ve learnt to look at other ways of dealing with problems rather than lashing out all the time…….When I leave prison I’m definitely going to put the things I’ve learned into practice, so that I don’t come back again.”

Another example is the Art of Living Prison SMART course, which involves stress management and rehabilitative training. The aim is to change the thinking and behavior of prisoners so they become less stressed, easier to manage and more receptive to rehabilitation. It also assists with sleeplessness, reduces depression, and can help with anger management. This is achieved through learning yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques and breathing exercises. It is a very demanding and disciplined course. There is always positive feedback from prisoners who complete the course. Feedback from a prisoner who undertook the most recent course we ran was this: “Before the course started I was frustrated, depressed, disappointed, low confidence, low self-esteem, argumentative…..After the course I am self-reliant, happy, relaxed, in control of my body, aware of people around me, in control of mind, accepting of things and have energy.”

HMP High Down House Block 5, Drug Recovery Wing invites an outside tutor from Croydon Philosophy School, once a week to facilitate a Philosophy Group Session. This allows the offenders to discuss and question “life” in a safe and structured environment.The objective is to enable the offenders to reflect on their own lives and the lives of their loved ones and to improve their perception of the outside. Hearing other peoples views on life can be a inspiring and can sometimes bring reality to their situation, allowing them the chance to change or improve their attitudes towards themselves and others.

1.4 Celebrating personal achievement, change and development

E.g. Certificates of achievement, art by prisoners displayed in prisons, making use of prisoners’ skillsHMP High Down participates in the Koestler Trust art by offenders and in 2011 HMP High Down had 6 entrants, 4 of which received a cash prize. The other entrants received a Highly/Commended Award. The artwork demonstrates the creative side of offenders which can be in the form of Sculpture, music and paintings or types. The success in such a renowned project is celebrated by the winner’s entries being displayed and sold at South Bank. Offenders who are still with us are invited to a small celebration in the Stephen Prior Centre with their peers. Those who may have been released are sent a letter and invited to attend the South Bank should they wish to visit.

HMP High Down also showcases prisoner art work along the walkways, classrooms and departments. HMP High Down is proud of what the offenders achieve and encourages them express themselves in the form of art or poetry. Offender poetry is also displayed in The CLINK- along the glass walls are engraved prisoners poems and a poem of the day on each table for the staff and external visitors to read and enjoy.

Regardless of how big or small the achievement has been, they all are celebrated; it could be in form of a peers applauding each other for completing a course or making a cake, a certificate being presented by the tutor or a hosted award ceremony in The CLINK, they are all special to the offender because in that very moment he is

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getting appreciated for his work and for what he has done himself.

2. Improving relationships

2.1 Supporting prisoners as parents

E.g. Learning together clubs, encouraging interaction between prisoners and their children, parenting coursesHMP High Down encourages prisoners to maintain their family ties and relationships by offering the opportunity to attend either or both Children’s Day and Teen Teas.Both the Teens Tea and Children's day have the same criteria; prisoners must not have any negative entries or adjudications for the past three months. This encourages good behaviour and attitudes and gives them an incentive to do so.The Children's day have children aged between 3 - 16 years attending and the Teens tea have 12 - 17 year olds only.Teen Teas is unique to HMP High Down and was implemented by a member of staff who helps with the organisation of the Children’s Day.Teen Teas is an early evening meal in The CLINK. Both the dad and child spend 2 hours having a three course meal; this gives them quality time together and is intimate and form close bonds. Some have discussed problems at home / school and others just like to have time with their dads alone without interruption from mum.The offender contributes £10 to this meal, which gives them the responsibility to ensure that they have enough money in their account to be able to attend.

Children’s Day is organised and run by committed HMP High Down staff.These days are solely for the dads to be with their children and interact with them and the session gives each prisoner quality time with their child / children.To help the dads play and feel at ease the staff organises a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, face painting, basket ball and much more. After the Children’s Day has finished and they have booked a visit the mum, dad and child/children can then talk to each other and discuss how the day went.Holiday times can be particularly difficult for children separated from one of their parents, so to try and ease things just a little we ensure every child visiting over Christmas will receive a present. We have good links with local church groups, Mothers Union, Women’s Institute, and Salvation Army and through their and their members generosity we receive a wonderful amount of donated toys and games. This allows us to ensure those children who attend the Christmas Children’s Day receive a present from their dad.

After each Children’s Day and Teen Teas we ask the Offenders for feedback to either continue they way we do things or any suggestions they may have for improvements. Some prisoners have said that they have not spent this amount of time talking / interacting with their children even outside of prison.

2.2 Sustaining long-term relationships

E.g. Help with transport for visits, support for prisoners’ families in the community, using technology to maintain relationshipsDowns Visitors Centers Associations aim is to make visiting an offender as easy and pleasurable as possible. Staff sit with every new visitor, (some 10,000 per year), to explain the procedures and do’s and don’ts of visiting. They are very much the interface between the visitors and operations within the prison and endeavor to sort out any problems that may exist with bookings, ID, property, money etc.

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Children can be particularly affected by having a parent imprisoned; however ninety minutes is a long time for a child to sit immobile at a table during a visit, so a play area, staffed by a combination of qualified DVCA play workers and volunteers, provides a place where they can be involved in constructive play. We believe the play area is important in getting children to visit but to maintain family ties we actively encouraged them to take back books, drawings, games etc to the table so dad can be involved. We are shortly to start a “Funbus” initiative where the Surrey Surestart playbus will come to the prison and mums and their kids can get involved in activities in the bus before their visit takes place. This planned to be a weekly event.

Surestart Children’s Centers and local authorities Family Information Services from Surrey, Sutton and Croydon come into the centre and talk to young mums on what assistance and services are available.

HMP High Down also provides offenders with an e-mail system we have called "E Prism". It is a derivative of the armed forces "E bluey" system. Offenders’ families can e-mail a designated address; the e-mails go onto a computer system in the Mail Room. Mail Room staff can look at the e-mails, for monitoring purposes and, if deemed appropriate, they print them off. The e-mail is formatted like a wage slip, with perforated edges and is then delivered to the relevant house blocks for distribution.

Offenders can reply by manually writing an "e-mail". This is scanned into the system and is sent to the relevant e-mail address. Families off the offender have the option to "pre pay" for a reply (on behalf of the prisoner) when they send their e-mails in.

2.3 Building friendships and social networks

E.g. Support for clubs, prisoner befriending programmes, peer mentoringHMP High Down have a variety of avenues for offenders to become a peer mentor and are successful in achieving a friendly and supportive atmosphere at High Down, however below is an excellent example of a member of staff taking that step further to volunteer and set up a Mentoring Scheme which reaches offenders inside prison and out.

Duncan Woolley formed lighthouse Mentors in 2009. Duncan is a Senior Officer at HMP High down. In March of 2009 four mentors met four mentees in the chapel and Lighthouse mentors was launched.

Lighthouse Mentors is a scheme, which aims to provide one-to-one support and guidance to prisoners who are within three months of release from Prison. They then work with them in the community for up to six months after release. The scheme is designed to help prisoners determine the life they want to lead away from crime, building their self-esteem and confidence by enabling them to chart their own journey toward a set of goals while knowing that dedicated support is always ready and available.

The Mentors visit their mentees in the legal visits rooms. They are expected to visit at least four times during their last three months. The idea behind this is twofold, one that they work on their goals for release and build up a relationship with their mentor prior to release. Once released ideally they meet their mentees at the gate point of release and look to meet up within days of release then continue to meet on a regular basis, which would tail off towards the end.

Lighthouse are continually developing and are in the process of attaining accreditation in the guise of the Approved Providers Scheme run by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation. They are also members of Gate Mate, which is an organisation set up of through the gate mentoring groups.

Their goal is to become a registered charity and is making great strides towards this. They are currently recruiting trustees and already have a Chairperson in place to help take this forward.

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There are currently six mentors working with six mentees both in prison here at High down and in the community.

2.4 Inculcating a sense of responsibility for others

E.g. Encouraging volunteering, peer mentor training, restorative justiceHMP High Down is widely recognised as having a great use of Peer worker Schemes and was chosen by the Prison Reform Trust on the site to launch their report on this subject “Time Well Spent” in 2011.

In October 2010, the Primary Care clinical lead introduced an initiative to use serving offenders to help with the promotion of general health, sexual health and vaccinations of offenders within HMP High Down. It started with just one representative but has since increased to having reps on each house block. All reps undertake a NVQ level 3 in advice and guidance and taught how to recognize the signs of self harm. The reps responsibility for others does not stop just at serving offenders at High Down it extends to outside community, because when those offenders are released, they will join our community and the healthier they are the better. The scheme won a World Health Organisation best practice award and is now being rolled out to three other prisons.

HMP High Down participates in the Sycamore Tree programme twice a year with the funding coming from the Prison Fellowship. This takes place one afternoon each week in the Chapel for six weeks. The offenders apply to attend this programme by submitting an application to the Chaplaincy Team.

The programme raises victim awareness among offenders and teaches the principles and application of restorative justice. Offenders on the programme explore the effects of crime on victims, offenders, and the community, and discuss what it would mean to take responsibility for their personal actions. The programme is taught using a variety of methods: large and small group discussions, tutor presentations, DVD clips, drama, and personal study time.

Sycamore Trees, most powerful element is when a victim of crime comes in to talk through how crime has impacted their lives. In June 2012 a victim came to High Down and gave her story of how she and her family were affected. Her house was burgled; however no one was in the house. It was surprising how some of the offenders did not realise that this had affected anyone but the aftermath and repercussions that followed. At the end of each programme Offenders have an opportunity in the final session to express their remorse - some write letters, poems or create works of art or craft.

3. Developing capabilities

3.1 Supporting numeracy and literacy

E.g. Partnerships with educational institutions, one-to-one learning with peer mentors, learning together clubsHMP High Down has been running Shannon’s Trust, Toe by Toe project for approximately 6 years now. We currently have 7 mentors and 41 mentees. Learning is one to one and often in the comforts of their own cell. This allows privacy and a calm atmosphere for both “teacher and learner”. The mentor is responsible for the timetables and recording of the progress of their mentee.

The name Toe by Toe was chosen to signify that a student makes progress by the tiniest steps - one toe at a time. However, even though the steps taken are small, the student can clearly measure his progress right from the first page. The student’s confidence and self-esteem are boosted as a result and often lead onto further education and learning.

Regular monthly meetings between staff liaison, Shannon Trust staff and Mentors take place to sure that all avalaible time is being used, to ensure the mentors are supported, which in turn ensures that the mentees are

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getting the best avalaible help and resources.

Many offenders have had negative past experiences of learning and are therefore reluctant to engage with the formal learning opportunties available to them with prison. The project encourages one to one learning and uses Peer Mentoring Scheme that enables offenders who can read to help those who can’t read very well. Successful completion of the booklet results in a Shannon’s Trust certificate presented to the offender.

The educational classes avalaible at HMP High Down all have an element of “transferable skills” in the curriculum- for example the Construction and Cookery classes will ensure that maths skills are taught as well as the physical elements of the course. Classes’ avalaible here at High Down are tailored to meet the academic requirements of workplace needs to ensure upon release they have achieved useable skills to ensure the best start to succeed.

3.2 Developing social and other skills for work

E.g. Training programmes, links/partnerships with employers pre-release, prison councilsHigh Down offers a large range of courses, qualifications and vocational training programmes that prepare prisoners for employment on release. These include bricklaying, carpentry, painting & decorating, plastering, multi-skills, food hygiene, health & safety, BICS, Food preparation & cooking, customer services, business enterprise, advice & guidance, as well as CV writing, disclosure letters and employability skills, amongst others. Once qualified, prisoners have the opportunity of linking with outside agencies, potential employers and a prison based careers’ advice service, with a view to obtaining employment on release.

An example of this is Surrey Jobmatch, a charity who mentor and support Surrey prisoners in to training or employment. They work with prisoners in the last stage of their sentences, helping them to become job ready and discussing realistic goals. They then link them to partner agencies and employers in the community, and continue to support them for some months after release. In the 18 months they have been working at High Down they have supported 86 prisoners, and two very recent examples of these have found full-time employment hedge-cutting and labouring, with the help of their mentor.

Another example is Sussex Pathways, a social mentoring scheme that supports the resettlement of prisoners who are returning to the Sussex area. A mentor meets with the prisoner on several occasions prior to release and continues to support him in the community. Job search and potential training opportunities are a common theme of these meetings, and in the 15 months that they have been working with us, they have engaged and supported nearly 60 prisoners. These are just two examples, but the prison as a whole has many community links, and a proven track record of supporting prisoners into work.

3.3 Addressing mental health and drug problems

E.g. Intensive support, peer mentoring, group therapyHMP High Down provides a programme to prisoners called The Bridge programme which started in June 2011, we have facilitated 7 programmes, with 81 starts and 63 completions.The object if the programme is to give clients the opportunity to look at their substance misuse through the 12 step program, clients are asked to take responsibility for their own recovery by actively engaging with treatment which consists of full time group work, one to one sessions and two written assignments.The Bridge Programme departs from many traditional twelve-step models by focusing on coping skills and attitudinal change. Clients concentrate on the first step, by addressing denial and motivation for change. The rest

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of the programme involves the introduction and rehearsal of NA strategies and techniques for maintaining abstinence and changing dysfunctional drug-related thoughts, habits and behavioural patterns. The criteria for the programme is substance misuse has become a problem, there are links between their offending and substance misuse and a willingness to change.

There have been a few Clients successes, the two that stand out for us are Offender 1 and Offender 2;Offender 1 came into custody and started a methadone programme, he attended CARAT groups, SDP and then reduced from his Methadone to attend the Bridge programme, on completion he showed such drive and determination to support others on their journey that he was offered a position as a RAPt peer supporter, he was an inspiration to the clients and staff on the DRW by his change in behaviour and attitude and his determination to beat the addiction that tore him apart. On release from Highdown he went to Kenward Trust, a residential rehab to continue his recovery journey. Offender 2 followed a similar treatment path as offender 1, completing CARAT groups, SDP then the Bridge programme, his appetite for knowledge on beating his addiction was huge, he had been in custody countless time before this, but this time was different for him, and it certainly showed, he was released from custody this year and went to a residential rehab where he continues to work on his recovery journey.

HMP High Down has a dedicated Mental Health InReach Team and supports any prisoner with mental health issue and require on going treatment. As well as longer term support for some individuals, Inreach services play a key role in developing packages that support the work of primary care services. Examples of this include short-term one-to-one supportive counseling, therapeutic groups and self-help guides and materials.

The Learning Disability Specialist (LDS) has been in operation for just over a year and is attached to the Mental Health In reach Service Surrey wide. High down was one of the first prisons in the country to operate this service. Major reports including the Bradley report had alluded to the fact that many prisoners had unidentified learning disabilities and therefore their needs were not being met. Services to tackle this issue have therefore been developed and High down have been at the forefront of this. The role incorporates, as examples but not exhaustive, the use of a screening tool to identify prisoners having a learning disability in the early stages of their initial imprisonment, assessment of prisoners referred to our service were there is evidence that a learning disability may be indicated, learning disability awareness training for staff and a general point of contact for advice and guidance for colleagues and allied professionals

3.4 Helping resettlement through housing

E.g. Partnerships with social landlords, mentoring pre and post-release, help with benefits

St Giles Trust offer training in HMP High Down. Their role is to train serving prisoners to successfully gain an NVQ Level 3 in Information, Advice and Guidance under St Giles Trust's Peer Advice Project. The course is vocational so prisoners provide an advice service to their fellow inmates. These Peer Advisors provide essential advice on a range of issues from housing-related matters, drugs and alcohol dependency, legal issues, health advice, equality and prison rules.

Many short sentence prisoners lose their homes during their time in custody and can be released homeless. This increases the likelihood of re-offending and so the role of Peer Advisors is to prevent the likelihood of this happening through housing interventions.

The NVQ qualification is equivalent to two 'A' Levels and is the required standard for anyone looking to undertake advice work. It is not a low level qualification and requires a high level of commitment and application.

One of our learners overcame huge barriers to gain his NVQ 3 in Information, Advice and Guidance and has applied the knowledge and skills he gained to the huge benefit of many others. The way he engaged with the learning process after such a long time away from it is also particularly noteworthy.

The 42 year old, left school at the age of 15 with no qualifications and little interest in education. He drifted into

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drugs and slipped into the familiar cycle of drug taking, crime & custody. He successfully overcame a heavy drug habit a few years ago but was still undecided as to what he wanted to do with his life. He eventually plucked up the courage to approach St Giles Trust to investigate the possibility of doing the NVQ and working as a Peer Advisor.

From the minute he started the course, he showed extraordinary levels of energy and commitment and achieved a great deal. He was always extremely disciplined, punctual and completed his assignments on time. He successfully gained his NVQ Level 3 in Advice and Guidance and continued working as a Peer Advisor. He became an invaluable asset to the St Giles Trust team in HMP High Down. He worked tirelessly, making himself available every hour he could and assessed a staggering 567 people, many of whom he went on to help. The help he provided covered all kinds of issues - housing and tenancy rights, benefits, eligibility and discrimination. We have seen him develop in confidence, communication skills and team working; furthermore, his self-esteem seemed to increase and his horizons broadened.

This is not easy work and the people he supported could be incredibly stressed, confused and sometimes challenging to deal with. He took everything in his stride and handled each case in a professional and diligent manner. To give an example, on one occasion he prevented a man with mental health issues - let's call him Peter - being homeless upon his release from prison. The Peer Advisor was handed an unresolved case from November 2010 where an invention should have taken place to prevent “Peter” being evicted from his housing association flat for arrears. Andrew was extremely concerned that “Peter” had been already evicted and went to see him to learn a bit more about his situation. Peter told Andrew he had already been evicted. Undeterred, Andrew got the details of Peter's housing association and investigated the issue further. He gained the assistance of the Housing staff and several involved phone calls liaising with housing benefits and “Peter” housing association later, Andrew successfully fought Peter's corner and got an undertaking from the housing association that they would find alternative accommodation for “Peter” in time for his release from prison in two months. If the Peer Advisor had not intervened, “Peter” would have been homeless and in an extremely vulnerable position upon his release from prison. The likelihood of him re-offending or causing harm to himself would have been greatly increased. There are many more cases like “Peter” that he worked with. His work as a Peer Advisor has been life changing and personally rewarding. However, what is particularly striking is the way in which he displayed this leap of faith in his own abilities and in the learning process to achieve so much in such a short space of time.

Part Two. Overall example of excellence and innovationChoose one project / intervention demonstrating overall excellence and innovation in person-centred work (This can be further information for an example already referred to in Part One, or a new example). Please do not exceed 1000 words in total.

Name of project Birdsongs 2

Describe the project in one sentenceA week’s joint song writing between young prisoners and disabled adults of a similar age, culminating in a performance to prisoners, staff and potential funders.

What are the project’s objectives?HMP High Down’s strategic objective is to run on the principles of desistance theory. This means testing every element of what we do against the question of whether it will assist or impede a prisoner’s personal decision to desist from crime in the future. The approach is liberating because small scale interactions can contribute to a larger whole.

Funded by the Michael Varah Memorial Fund, Birdsongs 2 was just such a project. Only 7 prisoners took part in the songwriting week. But around 60 attended the concert, and every one talked about it afterwards. Prison Radio

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brought the project’s message to audiences across the country, and Radio 4 will broadcast it at Christmas.

Its objectives were to support the desistance principles of strong relationships, offender motivation, and supporting a non-criminal identity.

What are the project’s activities?The Orpheus Centre is a residential performing arts centre founded by Sir Richard Stilgoe for young adults with disabilities – often severe. It uses performance to encourage independence and to improve self confidence and communication skills. The project brought together six students with seven prisoners to spend a week writing original songs to be performed to an audience of over 100 in the prison chapel.

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What has been the impact / achievement of the project? (a) in terms of the people involved and (b) in terms of re-offendingThe project aimed to affect the context in which desistance could take place, and there are no measurable impacts on reducing reoffending which we could ascribe to such a small group. But the impacts on the principles we were aiming for were significant.

Strong and meaningful relationships with staff

The central involvement of one officer clearly allowed both prisoners and staff to see each other in a new light. The target group was younger prisoners, less engaged with learning and the regime in general. The officer told a story of staff mistrusting a group of young prisoners huddled on the exercise yard, thinking they were exchanging contraband. In fact, she found that they were “beatboxing”, and that identified the kind of prisoner we wanted to reach.

Ashley, a prisoner with significant learning difficulties, said:

“The officers took their hats off to us – they said they couldn’t have done it”

Offender motivation and achievement

Our population typically views education with suspicion. So this prisoner quotation is significant:

“There has been lots of positive feedback from inmates who saw the show, people saying they want to do the course next year.”

All of the prisoners overcame the fear of performing to a large audience, and all received the overwhelming approbation of that audience. A key desistance message is that achievement must be recognised, and Birdsongs 2 achieved this both through audience reaction and the interest from Prison and National Radio.

It was also critically important that the acclaim was deserved. This feedback from an audience member was pivotal:

“I was certainly very taken …with the QUALITY of the music making. I have seen a lot of arts in prison, and music as a form of social inclusion, and, as a musician myself, been disappointed with how poor performance and composition standards have been so extravagantly praised that it was in fact cruel to those who were meant to be inspired and encouraged – they were having false hopes and belief in their achievements being raised. BUT what I saw two weeks back at Orpheus was brought together just so well, complete with genuine rough edges, that you could see the quality and stretching in the work created between the men and the Orpheus performers.”

The songs draw heavily on the shared experience of prisoners and disabled people, and it predominates in the feedback. For example:

“I learnt that people with disabilities are just like everyone else, they are sometimes looked down on and alienated, like prisoners”. And

“I learnt that … people in jail have to grow up very quickly due to the things they experience and the environment they are in, they want to be better people and improve themselves. I am proud of what we achieved ... I made lots of friends which I didn’t think I would.”

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Supporting the development of a non-criminal identity

A crucial feature is that the project changes the routine. Prisoners are not locked up at lunchtime, but eat with the Orpheus students and tutors. The seating at the concert ensured complete integration of guests and prisoners. All participants are songwriters and performers first, prisoners or disabled people second.

Prisoners’ remark that they feel a door has opened to new associations, and the destruction of previous misconceptions. For example:

“This week made me see things in a different light, and opened my eyes to see people and not just a disability”,

and from a prisoner who took part in the first project, reflecting a year after the event:

“It is an experience I will treasure for life and will talk about it to my friends and family as a positive in my growth as an individual”.

And from one of this year’s prisoners:

“I think we are all the same, we’ve just different lives and upbringings, anyone can do anything! I didn’t expect there to be so much love, but the group really bonded.”

Orpheus staff were touched by how quickly prisoners helped students in simple practical ways when the need arose – a non-criminal identity absorbed and demonstrated without a word spoken.

Conclusion

The project has had all these impacts, and produced strikingly high quality and creative outcomes. It has also produced moments of joy and intense emotion, enriching both the life of the prison and the work of the Orpheus centre, which now continually brings an insight about the prison world to its many performances throughout the year, in settings from the village green to Westminster abbey gardens. The sound files below help to explain why.

What are your plans for developing the project further?

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We invited potential funders to the final concert in 2012 and as a direct result Orpheus has secured £10K in funding to repeat the project at High Down, but also in other prison venues. Discussions have already taken place with Feltham and Isis.

Part Three. Your plan for spending the prize money

How would you spend the winner’s prize of £2,500 within the prison? Please do not exceed 500 words.

HMP High Down already produces an interventions directory which is for all staff and prisoners to access relevant resource information on interventions inside the prisons and to assist with resettlement. Currently there is just one copy avalaible on each house block.If we were fortunate to win the Good Prison Award we would like to spend the £2,500 on extending the content of the directory and its distribution.

We would also like to produce a leaflet/card that each prisoner can take with him on release, containing helpline numbers, and other resource information relevant to the geographical area to which he is being discharged. We hope that this will support the prisoners that leave our establishment and help to reduce their likelihood of Re-offending.

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Examples of entries to Part One

The following examples are taken from PrisonerActionNet and are presented as illustrations of the kind of project / inervention that could be included in Part One.

HMP Lay Moye: Inside Out

(Example of 1.1 Self-expression and reflection through the arts)

This project, at HMP La Moye, Jersey, encourages prisoners to take up creative and educational activities, to follow courses, and to present their work to the public annually at the Inside Out exhibitions in local art galleries.Many prisoners have failed at school and shy away from academic courses, but art can be therapeutic and can encourage prisoners to achieve success in other areas. Developing skills and knowledge can have an impact on the willingness of individuals to embrace change as people, and can stimulate well-being and improve self-esteem. This can encourage other educational activity, and participation in behaviour management programmes, and promote desistance from further crime.

The Inside Out project encourages prisoners to make art that will be shown to family and the wider community at galleries in March. The exhibition allows prisoners to express themselves, gives them pride in their achievements, and builds links with the community. The project also encourages prisoners to engage in horticulture, creative industry and carpentry. Plans for the future include exploring different 2- and 3-dimensional media; expanding the exhibition to include ceramics, carpentry and horticulture; making the art classes a space where emotions can be expressed safely; employing prisoners in creative industries such as toy making; and the tutor will complete an advanced diploma course in the therapeutic and educational application of the arts

HMP Forest Bank: Timpson's Training Academy

(Example of 3.2 Developing social and other skills for work)

Timpson’s Training Academy provides the opportunity of industry training and a guaranteed Timpson interview with the prospect of employment upon release for offenders who are willing to learn new skills and who are motivated and committed to gaining employment. As a company, Timpson’s provide a wide range of services, including key-cutting, shoe repairs, photo services, dry cleaning, locker repairs, house signs, engraving, and watch repairs. The project’s activities are not only to provide training, skills and experience but also to raise the aspirations of the trainees and get them focused on succeeding in employment upon release. The workshop environment and daily workload prepare prisoners for employment: it is not only a training academy but a service, as the trainees work on customers’ shoes that have been dispatched from local Timpson branches. The academy focuses on instilling the importance of employment in terms of the positive effects it has on reoffending rates and social inclusion. The partnership secures a minimum of 60 guaranteed interviews a year at Timpson’s for prisoners at Forest Bank and a total of 36 prisoners from Forest Bank have been interviewed and gained employment with Timpson. The partnership work and development of the academy was recognised at the 2010 GMEC Awards where Forest Bank and Timpson were awarded finalist status for the ‘Clean Slate’ Award.

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