Prison Impact
The power of skills innovation in prisons
We believe that skills development in prisons not only helps address major societal and economic challenges but is our responsibility to deliver as a Royal Charter body powered by charitable purpose.
Explore the Royal event at HMP Pentonville
See the ‘Life Beyond Bars’ short film
Read our new Prison Impact Report
Make a pledge or get in touch now
How skills development supports rehabilitation
Reoffending costs approximately £18.1bn every year in England, and evidence shows that upskilling prisoners to gain sustainable employment upon release, together with stable accommodation and support, is the most effective way to counter reoffending.
To help prisoners reach their potential and to capatalise on the potential of skills, City & Guilds’ work in prisons
spans everything from quality training and recognition services, to collaborating with employers seeking to
access new talent, to funding innovative deploying new technology that help prisoners secure skills for future
employment.
“We know that the golden thread for those leaving prison and not returning is made up of acquiring skills relevant to a job, being supported through the gate and into accommodation and an employer offering real opportunities.”
Celebrating innovative training in Prison, and through the gate
We held an event on 11 May at HMP Pentonville with our president HRH The Princess Royal, showcasing the transformative role of innovative, quality training in prison. At the event, some of our partners who were previously funded through our Future Skills Commission for Prisons showcased the innovative training they have been delivering.
Bounce Back
Bounce Back presented their virtual reality headset programme alongside Keltbray. The programme is being delivered in Prisons and the community.
HMP Hull and HMP Humber
HMP Hull and HMP Humber showcased their simulator technology which is boosting the confidence of their learners with construction skills.
Groundwork
Groundwork discussed how their construction and carbon literacy training is being used in HMP Forest Bank to support the economy towards a greener future.
HMP Highpoint
HMP Highpoint, alongside Intertrain, showed off their rail track programme, which is allowing learners to complete flexible rail courses.
“It is a privilege to have hosted the event at Pentonville. In recent times we have worked hard to boost those skills which help prisoners find employment on release, and it is fitting that City & Guilds and HMPPS can show this partnership together. This has come at a time when we’re looking to expand the work that we do together, taking advantage of progress in technology. This investment in to skills development will allow us to offer more to the men in our care, and be less constrained by the prison environment. Our ambition is to get more prisoners into employment on release, and I look forward to seeing what we’re able to do together in the future.”
Prison Impact Report
This new report profiles some of the programmes we fund in prisons and spotlights some innovations in training such as virtual reality that can help equip prison leavers for the world of work and lead to qualifications.
Be an advocate
Make a pledge and receive a digital credential
We are no longer issuing digital credentials for this event, but please see our upcoming events, our Neurodiversity Index and our ReSET: Recognise Strengths Engagement Tool for other opportunities to pledge your support and earn a digital credential.
Want to get in touch?
Let us know if you are working in this area or have a project you think we’d be interested in hearing about.
Other prison news from the City & Guilds Foundation
Changing Lives, Changing Industries: HMP Highpoint’s groundbreaking rail training
Around two weeks ago, we had the privilege of attending HMP Highpoint to see the opening of the first ever rail centre of excellence in prison, which back in 2022 we provided funding for installation of a rail track so that industry-standard training could be...
Inspiration and innovation at HMP Pentonville with XO Bikes
Since we created the City & Guilds Foundation in 2019, one of our key funding activities has been identifying and activating practical ways to support those who have been in Prison (or at risk of entering Prison) to build skills and secure, and sustain,...
Green Start: A transformative programme continuing to empower ex-offenders from Groundwork
Last year, we reported on the inspiring work being carried out by Groundwork, a UK-wide alliance of charities that brings communities together to tackle poverty and environmental challenges. Committed to creating opportunities for all, they launched their Green Start...
Creating collective impact in the rehabilitation sector
This is a guest post by Ian Bickers, Founder of Unlocking Justice and member of our Future Skills Commission for Prisons. When the City & Guilds Foundation organised a day bringing together the people they are partnering with in the rehabilitation space, I was...
Big Idea Fund: Five new projects awarded funding to unlock potential and support rehabilitation
Back in June we announced that we were inviting expressions of interest for the second round of our Big Idea Fund. The £1m Big Idea Fund was established in 2019 as the first major initiative of our Foundation, to support prisoners with upskilling to aid their...
ReSET: Recognising strengths developed through lived experience
We’re pleased to be able to launch ReSET: a strengths-based engagement tool which has been designed using the lived experience of people who are marginalised.
Big Idea Fund: more funding available to unlock the potential of the UK Prison population, and reduce reoffending
The City & Guilds Foundation is pleased to announce that we are inviting expressions of interest for the second round of The Big Idea Fund until 22 June 2023. The Big Idea Fund was the first major initiative of the Foundation’s ambitious Future Skills Commission...
Improving ex-offenders’ prospects through Groundwork’s ‘Green Start’ programme
Groundwork is a federation of charities mobilising practical community action on poverty and the environment across the UK. Dedicated to supporting communities and creating a green future, they aim to improve people’s prospects and promote opportunities for everyone,...
Celebrating skills development, in Prison, to support rehabilitation, on release
For nearly four years now we have endeavoured, through our Foundation, to identify and activate practical ways for offenders to build skills and gain a job upon release. Reoffending costs approximately £18.1bn every year in England, and evidence shows that upskilling...
Delivering Green Skills Training with Greenworkx and Catch22
The City & Guilds Foundation is pleased to announce two new partnerships with Greenworkx and Catch22 to deliver green skills training. The partnerships will provide training and support to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds develop the skills they need to...
