The Ministry of Justice is promising to help educate and employ prisoners

Prisoners will be given the skills to step into work on their release in a boost to prison education, David Gauke MP announced today.

The Justice Secretary unveiled the Education and Employment strategy at London’s HMP Isis today, promising to give governors more control over education to tailor it to specific prisoners’ needs.

It is hoped that a focus on education will help cut the £15bn annual cost of reoffending, with ex-offenders in employment up to nine per cent less likely to reoffend.

By working directly with prisons, employers can cut down on recruitment costs. Find out how you can #UnlockOpportunity: https://t.co/ZCur7xW07U pic.twitter.com/9R8hvBEIOX

— Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) May 24, 2018

However, there are currently just 17 per cent of offenders in full-time employment a year after release.

To combat that, prisoners will be offered education and training, work in custody and the availability of employment opportunities in the community to boost job prospects.

Governors will be able to commission education and training programmes that provide skills tailored to the local labour market, giving them the real-world skills necessary to find a job.

Some of the men and women we have funded in prison are now mechanics, youth workers, gym instructors and university lecturers. Steps to open employment will benefit individuals & the economy. https://t.co/CJXKuoEv2J

— Prisoners' Education Trust (@PrisonersEd) May 24, 2018

A vocation route, the Prisoner Apprenticeship Pathway, will offer a way to deliver training in custody with guaranteed jobs on release.

The strategy also aims to increase the number of prisoners taking on work in custody – 11,000 are currently employed internally across 300 organisations – while a consultation is being launched on how to get risk-assessed prisoners working on temporary licence today.

A new body, the New Futures Network, will work side-by-side with employers to generate new job opportunities.

“I want prisons to be places of hope and aspiration that propel offenders into employment, and ultimately help to reduce the number of victims of crime in the future,” said Gauke.

“I believe passionately that through work, people can turn their backs on crime and start a new chapter in their lives. Today’s announcement should signal to offenders that we will reward good behaviour and hard work with opportunity, and to employers that ex-offenders can make a positive contribution to their workforce, society and the economy.”

Good to hear @DavidGauke on @BBCr4today robustly defending the success of temporary release and its value to effective resettlement

— Prison Reform Trust (@PRTuk) May 24, 2018

The launch comes two months after the Ministry of Justice ended funding for the National Careers Service’s education programme in UK prisons, a move that was described as a “crushing blow for an already overburdened and underfunded prison system” by Prisoner Learning Alliance chair Tom Schuller.

But the Justice Secretary’s plans have been met with approval from Prisoner Education Trust chief executive Rod Clark.

We welcome @MojGovUk plans to #UnlockOpportunity, committing to improving prisoners’ chances of gaining work. But this must be backed up by financial investment including careers advice and access to tech. Read our full response here: https://t.co/iqtufGtnM3 https://t.co/ozkKavbYG5

— Prisoners' Education Trust (@PrisonersEd) May 24, 2018

“Giving governors greater control over prison education, making more use of day release and incentivising employers through a National Insurance holiday are all important steps to transform prisoners’ lives and help them contribute to their families and communities,” he said.

“However in order to work, this strategy must be backed up by the necessary financial investment. Prisoners must also have careers advice and access to technology in order to develop the digital skills nearly all jobs these days require.”