European Social Fund in England

North Devon College and Dartmoor prison positive support for rehabilitation

The "Training for Employment Positive Support for Rehabilitation" project is a partnership project between North Devon College and Her Majesty's Prison Service, providing training and employment opportunities for category C and D prisoners, both within prison grounds and on 'licensed' release. The project originally aimed at delivering training and assessment in Construction related vocational training to 120 candidates over a 20 month period. However, the success of this project has allowed for 159 beneficiaries to access training so far.

In early 2003 North Devon College started to deliver vocational Construction training at Her Majesty's Prison Dartmoor. Initially, funding for the scheme came from the Learning &Skills Council's Local Initiatives Fund, and during the early stage of the project North Devon College delivered only Trowel Occupations in the form of a City and Guilds 6081 Basic Bricklaying Skills.

In May 2003, further funding was secured through the Learning and Skills Council Co-Financing framework, allowing the continuation of training and the opportunity to further widen the range vocational training to four individual programme areas, being:

• Wood Occupations
• Trowel Occupations
• Decorative Occupations
• Plumbing and Mechanical Engineering Services.

To support this provision further funding was secured from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Objective 2 Programme, to convert additional accommodation within the prison into a second vocational training area. The construction phase was completed and new workshop accommodation opened on May 26th 2004, with local employers, industry representatives and representatives from the Home Office in attendance.

The training areas now operated and managed by North Devon College comprise the following:

• 3 Classrooms, with appropriate multi-media equipment and learning resources.
• 3 Student / Staff / Interview / Office Rooms.
• 4 Purpose built training and assessment workshops that meet current industrial standards.
• 4 Secure storage areas for materials, tooling and components required for training and assessment.
• 3 Student rest areas.

Current good practice that exists within North Devon College's main site, recognised as a Beacon Award Centre, has been used as the model for implementing training and assessment at HMP Dartmoor. This sharing of good practice between a further education provider and Her Majesty's Prison Service ensures workshops meet industry and award body requirements, as well as providing excellent training, assessment and work experience for all students drawn from the current prison population.

17 beneficiaries from this current project, having successfully completed their certificated qualification, have been released from prison and are enrolled upon a day release programme at further education providers in the South West. These candidates are in employment with local Construction companies.

Since its inception, this project has:

• Provided employment opportunities for released prisoners within the Construction industry.
• Provided a clear progression opportunity for learners that also seeks to reduce re-offending rates.
• Met skills shortages within the Construction industry by providing qualified staff, further allowing contractors to operate more effectively and efficiently.