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
City & Guilds Foundation funds Breakthrough to support prison leavers into apprenticeships in innovative new partnership
The City & Guilds Foundation and Breakthrough, the UK’s first apprenticeship provider to recruit directly from prisons, have entered a new partnership to support prison leavers into employment. Founded in March 2020, Breakthrough was the first charity to focus on...
Reflecting on our achievements in 2022
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How we’re supporting St Giles to change lives by investing in vital training
St Giles is a London-based charity that helps people create a better future for themselves, and they’ve been an active part of our Foundation network for over five years. The charity works with people to overcome poverty, exploitation, abuse, addiction, mental health...
Helping our partners in the offender / reoffending space to embrace neurodiversity
Last week was my second week of secondment with the Foundation Team and I was fortunate to be able to attend a two-day Neurodiversity Train the Trainer event. It was delivered by Helen Arnold Richardson from DO-It Solutions, and was specifically for our Foundation...
No Going Back: City & Guilds Foundation supports The Livery Company initiative
There are few occasions since setting up City & Guilds some 144 years ago when the Livery Companies have worked together towards a single objective. And that’s why we’re delighted that through the City & Guilds Foundation we’re able to support the new and...
As part of the City & Guilds Foundation Inclusion and diversity events series, offering thought-provoking conversations and actionable steps to promote equal opportunities and improve inclusion and diversity in your organisation. In this episode we explored...
Fair opportunities: employing prison leavers
This guest post is by Miki Tillet, Lead Learning Designer at Kineo. The second in a series of I&D events hosted by the City & Guilds Foundation went live on Tuesday the 8th of June, this time focusing on inclusion in the context of employing people with lived...
A partnership that’s making a real difference, to real people
The City & Guilds Foundation and The Educators’ Trust have teamed up to provide mental health first aid training for a team of advisors delivering vital services to vulnerable young people. The training which also includes essential digital skills will be...
Support for a green start
This guest post is by Andrew Harrison, Head of Contracts at Groundwork UK. As has often been said of late, we’re facing unprecedented challenges as a nation. Those challenges are many and significant – global economic trends, a changing climate and now an unforgiving...
Interview with Change Grow Live’s Laura Shurrock
We recently caught up with Laura Shurrock, Mentoring Support Officer at Change Grow Live, a charity we have been supporting since 2018 with a three-year grant. Change Grow Live’s mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and...
