PCC praises award winning prisoner scheme as a "win for society"
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, has described an award winning scheme which practical skills to prisoners as a win for governors and a win for society.
Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) started out as a pilot scheme in South West England and it's now gone on to win at the Government Property Awards.
Funded by five Police and Crime Commissioners and the One Public Estate programme, which is managed by the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association, and the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, PBH is working with housebuilders to employ prisoners across the country and is on track to deliver 82 homes this year.
Through partnership with private sector companies and landowners such as councils and churches, prisoners and recent prison leavers learn skills and get paid for their labour, so on release they are employable and can provide for themselves and their families.
Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon said:
“I’ve seen the prisoners building homes and I’ve seen the enthusiasm with which they want to take on new skills which will enhance their life prospects when they leave the prison.
“It is a win-win for prison governors and for society in general.”
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said:
“Many people who are in prison may not have their own home to go to, may not have a job to go to and then often will fall into their old ways – we’re really keen to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Alex Chalk KC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, visited a factory (MMC Homebuilding – one of the companies working with the programme) in Gloucester recently, where modular homes were being constructed.
In a video created to support the programme, he praised it for offering a creative solution to tackling reoffending.
“This is an exciting opportunity that can deliver on the needs of societies. Reoffending costs our country £20bn a year and devastates lives,” he said.
“Prisoners who get to do this learn skills that will ultimately ensure that they can have that hope, that sense of a future and a stake in society once again, and, of course, they’re producing homes, so this is a triple win, it’s good for individuals, it’s good for society and it’s good for the supply of homes in our country.”
Benefits for prisoners
Daniel was employed on his release after taking part in the programme and features in the video.
He said:
“To come out of prison every day and earn honest money; to have a focus, something to do and a good purpose was a game-changer.”
Trevor, a serving prisoner, said:
“I’m not just stuck in a prison, I’m learning again, it’s a very good experience and I’m enjoying every minute of it. It makes you feel good, you’re earning a wage now, it means every month I’m able to send my wife and children money home.”
Shaun, who is also a serving prisoner, said:
“When we get released from prison it means there’s a chance for us to earn decent money legitimately rather than doing what we used to do. It’s a blueprint for the future on how to deal with prisoners and stop them reoffending.”
The scheme was initiated by Police and Crime Commissioners for Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
The programme won a prestigious award for innovation at the Government Property Awards in September 2023.
Colin Hussey is Governor at HMP North Sea Camp in Lincolnshire, one of the prisons which is participating in the programme.
He said:
“The enormity of the programme cannot be understated. To leave prison with money in the bank, a house, somewhere to live and job security is an amazing thing that will change their future and the future of their families. Not only can we teach people a trade, a purpose and a work ethic, we can give them skills to leave prison better people who are law abiding, useful members of society.
“I have a workforce of prisoners which I can now deploy that cause me no concerns.”
New sites needed
The programme is now seeking new sites where there is a desire to deliver affordable, quality, low carbon, sustainable homes, which typically are allocated to those most in need of housing.
Jason Bassett works for DragonHeart Homes, another of the companies working with the programme.
He said:
“It’s been transformative for us, participants’ attitudes have been amazing, they’ve genuinely felt it is a second chance opportunity. They have worked really hard, it’s added a lot of value to us and for the rest of our workforce.”
Thursday 7 March 2024