Encouraging more prisoners into education at HMP Oakwood

Prison education plays an integral role in a prisoner's successful rehabilitation. Research conducted by the Ministry of Justice indicates that people who had participated in education whilst in prison, were less likely to reoffend. Which is why at Novus we encourage as many prisoners as possible into education, so they can be equipped with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive upon release and reduce their risk of reoffending. 

Recently, HMP Oakwood held its first-ever roadshow event, providing both colleagues and prisoners the opportunity to explore the full range of services and programs available within the prison. 

Roadshow event to showcase colleague and learner opportunities

One of the key aims of the event was to encourage colleagues and prisoners alike to become more involved in the various learning and development opportunities available. 

The roadshow saw enthusiastic participation from Novus colleagues, setting up individual stalls to showcase their departments and areas of expertise. Some of the highlights included interactive demonstrations from the music department, fun and educational maths games and vocational training displays which were all designed to provide insight into the different programs available at HMP Oakwood. 

The event was a huge success, bringing together colleagues from various disciplines and prisoners eager to engage in the activities on offer. With prisoners actively engaging in the roadshow, it is expected that there will be a positive impact on course allocations, with more prisoners choosing to take part in educational and vocational programs. 

Events like this not only encourage prisoners into education, but also shows them the different routes into education programmes at the prison. Prisoners have many barriers to education from neurodiverse needs - over 30% of prisoners have a learning difficulty or learning challenges, negative relationships with education and simply not having the confidence to partake in educational programmes. 

By showcasing our different programs as well as highlighting the support and guidance that is available to prisoners, it shows them that they can partake in education at a level that supports their individual needs. 

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