Initiative to develop skills of prisoners

ACADEMICS from Loughborough University have devised six pillars of success for partners involved in the nationwide Twinning Project – an initiative developed to help UK prisoners develop new skills.

The key findings were shared at a ‘knowledge exchange’ event at University Stadium attended by key stakeholders and representatives from the various clubs involved. Dr Christopher Kay (criminology and social policy) and Dr Carolynne Mason (sport, exercise and health sciences) delivered best-practice themes.

Launched in 2018 and supported by the Ministry of Justice and the UK’s leading football bodies, the Twinning Project enables professional football clubs - supported by physical education officers from the Prison Service - to deliver coaching, refereeing and other employability-based qualifications to individuals serving custodial sentences.

Loughborough researchers were appointed to analyse the implementation of the project, measuring its short and long-term impact.

The themes included: sport as a ‘hook’ for change; maximising engagement; the realities of prison life; delivery approaches; relationships matter; and course end, not the end.

To date, 46 Premier League and EFL football clubs have agreed to engage in the project.