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Pupils in Loughborough learn the reality of prison life
Posted on 19/03/2008
P. Klein
A group of pupils from Burleigh Community College in Loughborough have spent the day at an all female prison to learn about the stark realities of prison life.
The group of 12 girls, aged between 14 and 16, went to HMP Morton Hall in Lincolnshire to meet prisoners and staff to hear their life experiences. The trip was planned to show the pupils the consequences of making the wrong choices.
Teachers at Burleigh are working with the pupils, who have either been excluded from school or have a very bad attendance record, to try and re-engage them and get them back into education, employment or training and improve their prospects for the future.
They were shown around the prison and spent time talking to prisoners, who had been convicted of a range of offences. HMP Morton Hall is a semi-open womens prison which holds just under 400 offenders.
Ivan Kearney, the Community Initiatives Coordinator at Loughborough police station organised the trip. He said; "The day was about engaging the young people in a lively and stimulating way to try and show them the serious consequences of making the wrong choices. It was about encouraging good citizenship and warning them that bad behaviour can put you on a slippery slope to prison. The prisoners were very articulate and honest about their life experiences. It was very striking to see the pupils attitude change as they became more aware of the seriousness of prison life. They saw for themselves how a prisoners dignity and pride are affected by a period of custody and I think it really opened their eyes and I hope it will have a long term impact."
The pupils have all written to the prisoners to thank them for their time. One pupil wrote; "When they told us about what happens when they first got put into prison it made me think I never want to go there and Ill think about my actions and I dont want to lose family over it!" Another wrote; "When we got there I was laughing and joking then we got into the room and we seen the dog everyone got scared and....it made us all think about what we do and what we are doing. It was a really good day." A third girl wrote; "I was strange and scary when I saw them big people. I wouldnt like to be searched. Didnt like the food. Dont want pride taken off of me."
Mike Griffiths, the Re-Engagement Co-Coordinator at Burleigh Community College, said; "The girls took a lot from the day. It gave them a lot to think about. We are trying to reduce the number of teenagers who are not in employment, education or training. We are doing that by working with them to try and encourage them to get some focus in their life. It was a very productive day, the girls were very moved by it and we are planning to do it again."
One of the prisoners who spoke to the girls, Sarah, wrote to Ivan after the visit to tell him that she too had learnt a great deal from the day and that it had helped her.
She wrote; "Firstly I would like to express to you (as well as all others involved) my sincere gratitude for not only the opportunity to address the young people and hopefully give them a little more understanding of the personal and overall consequences of their actions...but also for allowing me to be able to express my motivation and determination to change my own life around.
Personally speaking I have not had the chance to show my remorse and guilt in a constructive or positive way and I am extremely mentally and emotionally overwhelmed which is a link to humanity I thought I had lost so again thank you all so much." She added that the project had given her an insight into an area she didnt know much about, "helping others," and that she was pleased to be, "giving a little back to society," and that it had made her think about her career choices when she got out of prison. She has also offered to talk to other pupils in the future.
Ivan Kearney added; "Everyone benefited from the day, which was unique as it has never been done before with all female pupils at that prison. It took a lot of co-ordination to set it and I know that everyone took something from it and I am pleased that the prison and the college are planning to work with us and hold similar days in the future."