The Forward Trust been working in prisons for 25 years, delivering a diverse range of employability and skills contracts, including those in the community. And despite being a new entrant into the prison IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) arena, we have been highly successful in winning IAG contracts through the DPS. We are delivering IAG services in seven prisons, including one regional cluster and a high security prison. We have supported over 900 learners, 85% of whom have had their completed individual learning plan reviewed regularly within a six week period.
We believe that high quality careers advice in prisons will enable our learners to access jobs and apprenticeship roles that will help them to continue to develop their qualifications, improve their pay and progress in life. As such, these service make a crucial contribution towards Forward’s mission to break the cycles of addiction and crime.
Overall, our experience has been very positive. While we have made big investments of time, effort, skills and knowledge, we have also learned a lot from delivering in environments that are very challenging for both staff and learners.
Here are three challenges and eight success factors from our experience so far.
The challenges
The success factors
For more information on Forward Trust’s Employment Services, see https://www.forwardtrust.org.uk/our-services/employment-services/
https://morethanmypast.org.uk/
Gee Punia is the Head of Employability and Skills at the Forward Trust
Asi Panditharatna is the Divisional Director of Employment Services at the Forward Trust
Find out more about the employment support sector