HMP Brinsford staff inspire schoolchildren during crime week

As part of an engaging ‘Crime Week’ initiative, school children were given a unique opportunity to engage with the realities of the UK’s prison system, not through textbooks or television, but through a powerful in-person visit from staff at HMP Brinsford, including the prison’s Education Manager, Adrian, and the Learning and Skills Manager Ricki.

The thought-provoking visit wasn’t just about explaining the rules and routines of prison life, it was about challenging assumptions, encouraging empathy, and sparking thoughtful conversation about justice and rehabilitation. 

Bringing real-world insight into the classroom

Adrian, who has years of experience working with learners in prison, spoke candidly about how education can transform lives behind bars. He described how many people in prison have never had a positive experience of learning, and how access to education can offer something many have never had, a second chance.

“People make mistakes” Adrian told the students, “But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a second chance”. 

He also challenged students to rethink common stereotypes, urging them to see beyond the label of ‘prisoner’ and recognise that many people in prison are capable of positive change. The session also gave students a glimpse into the role that prisons, and educators like Adrian and Ricki, play in supporting personal growth, mental wellbeing and rehabilitation. 

Curiosity, Critical Thinking and Compassion

  The students were fully engaged throughout the visit, asking insightful and at times challenging questions. Their enthusiasm didn’t stop there, Adrian was later invited back to take part in a school debate on a topic with serious moral and legal weight: Should the death penalty be reinstated?

This willingness to explore difficult questions is precisely what initiatives like Crime Week aim to encourage. It’s not just about deterrence, it’s about developing critical thinking, encouraging young people to form informed opinions, and giving them the tools to navigate a complex justice system with nuance and understanding.  

Walking through history at Shrewsbury prison

The week concluded with a trip to Shrewsbury prison, a decommissioned site that now serves as an educational space. The students were given the opportunity to experience a decommissioned prison environment firsthand, and reflect on the complex realities of crime, punishment and rehabilitation. 

Helping young people understand life in prison is not about glorifying crime or scaring them straight. It’s about building awareness, promoting empathy, and encouraging them to think deeply about justice, fairness, and rehabilitation.

In a world where media portrayals of prison life often rely on extremes, experiences like Crime Week offer something much more valuable: the truth. And with that truth comes the chance to foster a generation that sees the full picture, one where those who have served time are seen not just for their past mistakes, but for their potential to change.

The visit by HMP Brinsford staff left a lasting impression, not just as an educational experience, but as a powerful reminder of the human stories behind the headlines. 

Want to learn more about the impact of education in prison and how we’re changing lives through learning? Read our latest news stories and explore the work we do here at Novus.