Inmates celebrate journey to freedom
Ground-breaking programme helps men to find their place in society
The YMCA in Perth has celebrated the completion of their ground-breaking “journey to freedom” project.
Working alongside HMP Perth, Perth and District YMCA has been running an eight-week long programme with three inmates from the prison to help them re-integrate back into society.
With the help of the YMCA’s chaplain, Journey to Freedom looked to make positive changes in a bid to help reduce re-offending rates once the inmates left HMP Perth, in what is thought to be the first pilot programme of its kind in the UK.
Alyxs Shaw from the YMCA said: “It was a true joy to see and experience true transformation, to see a person gain hope, to believe in oneself and understand they are not alone. Running Journey to Freedom within HMP Perth was a true honour and privilege. I will never forget the amazing men we worked alongside and how open and vulnerable they were willing to be. It is inspiring.”
Throughout the eight-week programme, the three inmates were encouraged to consider the role selfesteem, fear, relationships, faith and their past experiences play in how they lead their lives, and aim to create a supportive and caring environment for those taking part, as well as looking to permanently change their minds, body and spirit.
One of the participants said the programme had been extremely beneficial by “finding out more about God, and getting to understand my strengths and weaknesses”.
Alan Arundel, head of offender outcomes at HMP Perth, said: “HMP Perth is delighted to have taken part in this very worthwhile course. It is a positive example of how taking a collaborative approach and using the expertise of the third sector, specifically the YMCA, in providing opportunities for those in our custody to transform their lives.
“The course has been well received, supporting behavioural change and making a difference to those who took part.”
He added: “We are grateful to the YMCA for allowing us to take part in this ground-breaking opportunity.”
Since completing the programme, one inmate is now looking to be trained as a facilitator for the project, and another has started volunteering with the YMCA for the next Journey to Freedom programme which starts next month.
Perth and District YMCA say they are also looking to run another Journey to Freedom course for young women.
Three prison inmates took part in the Journey to Freedom programme with the YMCA