Swaleside follows e-learning Pathways
A new project across London, the East, South East, South West and North East of England, is encouraging offenders and ex-offenders to get back into learning – via the internet. The £1.5 million Pathways Project is a pilot financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Ufi, the company behind learndirect.
Inmates at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey are taking time out from the prison’s workshops to follow learndirect courses in a new on-site centre, the first of its kind in a closed prison.
Hilary Clifford, Head of Ufi East, leads on Ufi’s offender provision. She explains: “Swaleside is one of 12 prisons and probation services set to take part in the ESF Pathways Project, which concentrates on delivering qualifications in Skills for Life and IT to prisoners due for release within the next two years. Prisons will be partnered with local learndirect centres to ensure learners get the access and support they need to progress. For the first time, learners will also have the opportunity to work with the same tutor both pre and post release to ease their transition into probation and the community.”
One Swaleside learner taking advantage of the centre is Dennis, 33, who has been working on a ‘Skills Check’ of his literacy and numeracy skills. He said: “I left school early, and by that time I was already in trouble with the police. I know what I’m capable of, but the fact is if you’ve not done it since school you get rusty. Besides, you need good maths and English to get anywhere now – and you need to know about computers.”
Mike Harrison, Head of Learning and Skills at HMP Swaleside, says: “More than 80% of offenders have literacy levels below or equivalent to those of an 11 year old, and 49% were excluded from school before the age of 16. Addressing those skills gaps is an important factor in reducing the risk of re-offending.
“The learndirect centre at Swaleside allows learners to follow a range of courses online without being able to access the wider internet. It’s only been open a few weeks, but already there’s a buzz about it. It’s an ideal fit for offenders - plugged in one-to-one with a computer they can learn different things at different speeds, without competing with peers or being embarrassed in front them. Minimum interaction between learners means the atmosphere is very calm, and the modular structure of courses gives a quick result and sense of achievement.
“learndirect will run alongside our other courses, and we plan to use it to consolidate the work learners are doing in the education block. We were very clear, however, the centre should be based in the workshops to attract people who wouldn’t necessarily come over to us. We hope the informality of learndirect will make it a first step back into learning many might not otherwise have taken.”
So far, around 30 learners have signed up to over 200 courses under the guidance of tutors from local learndirect centre Mainstream. By December 2006, the ESF Pathways Project aims to have enrolled more than 7,000 learners.
Dennis continues: “I was in air conditioning maintenance before, and I’d like to go back to it, maybe set up my own business. I first wanted to come when I saw learndirect did a waste management course, which would be relevant, and I’d like to go on to do web publishing so I can build a business website.
“I didn’t think I’d like being stuck in front of a computer, but it actually suits me to go at my own pace. It’s not like any learning I’ve done before, and at the end of the day I’m getting something out of it. You’ve got to think about getting out and what you’re going to do differently, and you’ve got to grab whatever you can to help you do it.”
The ESF Pathways Project will soon pay for more equipment so more of Swaleside’s 750 inmates can access courses. Governor Tony Robson has high hopes for the project. He concludes: “Learning plays a vital role in raising morale and self esteem and contributing to individuals’ sentence plans and prospects on release. learndirect has great potential in prisons, and I’m looking forward to seeing the project develop.”
For more information, please contact Helen Wheeler, ESF Pathways Project Manager, on 07787 106229 or email hwheeler@ufi.com
To contact Mainstream direct, please call Mark Smith on 01795 418100 or email mark.smith@recruitandtrain.com