Prison plea for help from local businesses
Thursday, 17th May 2012.
Ways in which local businesses to help efforts to rehabilitate prisoners from Highpoint were highlighted at a business meeting in Haverhill this morning.
The monthly meeting of thebestofHaverhill heard from Stephen Phillips and Lisa Haworth from the prison about a new initiative called Breaking The Cycle.
The category C prison which houses 1,300 inmates, with 600 staff and 200 provider staff, is a training prison, where the average length of stay of an offender is seven months.
Nearly 50 per cent are discharged back to London, but also many are discharged into Suffolk and Essex. The current re-offending rate from the prison is between seven and eight per cent.
Offenders are assessed for their likelihood of re-offending, and there are seven 'pathways', a failing in any of which is likely to lead to re-offending, which include medical problems, financial problems and employment problems.
Several local businesses have helped the education programme at the prison in numerous different ways, other than offering employment, and Mr Phillips aswked for others to come forward.
Examples included UK Power Networks based in Bury, who supplied a second-hand mini-digger so that a mini-digger course could be added.
May Gurney engaged the prison workshop to refurbish its road signs, Ridgeons supplied a lot of waste paint which could be used in courses in prison workshops.
Other offers have included mentoring and temporary licence work.
Any employers who can offer help can contact Stephen Phillips or Lisa Haworth through the prison.
The monthly meeting of thebestofHaverhill heard from Stephen Phillips and Lisa Haworth from the prison about a new initiative called Breaking The Cycle.
The category C prison which houses 1,300 inmates, with 600 staff and 200 provider staff, is a training prison, where the average length of stay of an offender is seven months.
Nearly 50 per cent are discharged back to London, but also many are discharged into Suffolk and Essex. The current re-offending rate from the prison is between seven and eight per cent.
Offenders are assessed for their likelihood of re-offending, and there are seven 'pathways', a failing in any of which is likely to lead to re-offending, which include medical problems, financial problems and employment problems.
Several local businesses have helped the education programme at the prison in numerous different ways, other than offering employment, and Mr Phillips aswked for others to come forward.
Examples included UK Power Networks based in Bury, who supplied a second-hand mini-digger so that a mini-digger course could be added.
May Gurney engaged the prison workshop to refurbish its road signs, Ridgeons supplied a lot of waste paint which could be used in courses in prison workshops.
Other offers have included mentoring and temporary licence work.
Any employers who can offer help can contact Stephen Phillips or Lisa Haworth through the prison.
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