‘‘Active Citizenship TogetherActive Citizenship Together’’

IIntegrating the prison into the ntegrating the prison into the lives of the local communitylives of the local community..

Andy HudsonAndy Hudson

Governor, HMP Standford HillGovernor, HMP Standford Hill

HMP Standford HillHMP Standford Hill

An open prison with 464 male prisoners

From a few weeks to a ‘life’ sentence

Most prisoners are not local

We are part of the local community

What is ‘active citizenship?’

Being involved in your community, having your say and taking part in

decisions that affect you.

The Governor

and

Senior Managers

Offenders Prison Staff

The outside Community

Our Vision

‘Together we make

Standford Hill a Safe, Decent and Positive

Community’

Two examples

Active Citizenship Together for Swale

Island Sports College

Active Citizenship Together for Swale (A.C.T Swale)

A partnership project formed under the banner of the Swale Community Safety Partnership in March 2007

Key partners include Amicus Horizon and Swale Borough Council

Project is joint funded and managed

Who are A.C.T Swale?

A team of five serving offenders on temporary release from HMP Standford Hill

A supervising Prison Officer Supporting departments within the prison

(Working Out Scheme, Gardens department, Offender Management Unit)

Operational project leads assigned from Amicus Horizon and the Council

A van, tools and a lot of good will and hard work

How does it work?

The Working Out Scheme identify and risk assess suitable candidates for the work

Offenders sign a compact to agree to work on the project and abide by certain rules

They receive training in the use of garden tools and general health and safety before starting on the project

How does it work, continued….. Amicus Horizon and Swale Borough

Council co-ordinate and primary risk assess jobs

Officer Supervisor conducts secondary risk assessment for hazards on site

Outcomes measured by Amicus for customer/ resident satisfaction SBC for cleaner greener targets and reduced

fear of crime HMPS for offender behaviour change

Outputs measured for Value for Money

Where does it work?

Swale area organisations have been the sole contributors for the two years of the pilot project, Canterbury City Council now buying in for 09/10

Amicus use the project to clear gardens for vulnerable, disabled and elderly clients and also for project work in the Swale borough (and some further a field)

The Council use the team for public open spaces and community request work

Does it work?

Year 1 pilot project saw 23 offenders go through the scheme, 19 (83%) demonstrated a decrease in their re-offending likelihood

199 jobs completed and 130 tonnes of waste cleared from the borough.

Amicus customer satisfaction rates rose 12% Value for money assessment showed project

worth double it’s actual cost (based on market price for work carried out)

Does it work, continued…..

Year 2- second ‘landscaping’ team established for a four month pilot Dec 08- Apr 09

300+ jobs completed by team 1 Several large project jobs completed by team 2 Over 160 tonnes of waste collected 40 offenders have gone through the project and

32 (80%) have demonstrated sustained improvement in skills and a reduced risk of re-offending

Does it work, continued….. Community response has been extremely positive,

letters of thanks, emails, photos sent in by residents

Media response has also been very positive- numerous write ups and some high profile visits over the two years

Awards have been won for Environmental Excellence and other awards

Offenders on the scheme are better behaved in the establishment and more positive about their life after prison

Before and After Pictures

Mallard Court, Sheerness

Prince Charles Avenue, Minster

Painting Street FurnitureRestoring FencingClearing Residential AreasTreating Benches in a Residential Home

Island Sports College

Physical Education Department and Health

Promotion Centre

To address the offending behaviour of prisoners, to tackle the criminogenic factors and reduce the likelihood of re-offending upon release.

To provide a high quality physical education programme which includes structured classes and activities designed to meet the needs, abilities and aptitudes of prisoners and offer support and advice to prisoners and staff on issues relating to physical recreational and lifestyle activities.

All activities in the PE department will as far as possible reflect the activities on offer in the community which people can expect to participate in on release.

To encourage social responsibility through the medium of sport and recreation and offer relevant vocational training to assist in rehabilitation.

Purpose of the PE Department

Peer Tutors The Peer Tutor Scheme is well used across the PE

Cluster.

They help to:

run courses passing on their knowledge to other prisoners, increase learning and teaching across many areas, it also helps to build self esteem and confidence. many of the Peer Tutors have gained employment in the Leisure

Industry.

Employer Links Many links with Employers have been built up these

include various health Clubs, companies and Sport Teams. Including Virgin Active, Fitness First , David Lloyd ,Serco Leisure, Greater London Leisure, Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient football Clubs, and London Towers Basketball Club.

Community outside Health & Fitness solutions a social enterprise

scheme set up with prisoners trained and delivering courses for the Island partnership in Sheerness

Community inside…….. We have many community groups visit the PE department including

The Freedom Centre of Sheerness, Sheppey Tickers, Leysdown Care Home Retired Teachers of Sheerness.

Some access the swimming pool where we provide life guards and swimming lessons and along with the working out scheme have provided prisoners to help at some their centres

We also deliver Team building and healthy living for local schools, at Borden Grammar who gave us £6000 towards our mobile team challenge kit .Minster College who we deliver team building and healthy living to for their staff and pupils .

Community Liaison

Charity for the local Community

We have raised over £5,000 for the local community charities.

Prisoners have raised money for Steve Brown a local Olympic paraplegic athlete.

The 3 Peaks Challenge Plus many other sports challenges as

each prisoner Sports Leaders award organises a charity event

What is ‘active citizenship?’ Above all, it's about people making things

happen and gives serving prisoners a real chance to give something back to the community by way of reparation for the offence that they have committed.

and

As a result they are able to improve the quality of life for residents in the local community and positively enhance their personal confidence and self esteem.

Being involved in your community, having your say and taking part in

decisions that affect you.

‘‘Together we make Standford Together we make Standford Hill a Safe, Decent and Hill a Safe, Decent and

Positive Community’Positive Community’

Andy HudsonAndy Hudson

Governor, HMP Standford HillGovernor, HMP Standford Hill