(The
Rotary/HMP Buckley Hall Project)
Introduction
A rota of volunteer Rotarians helped prisoners with Literacy at
a Wednesday evening session for some months. A halt was called
to this earlier this year, despite both Rotarians and prisoners
feeling that the scheme had merit. Reasons were:
1. Extensive time, energy and organisation by Rotarians were being
responded to inadequately by prison authorities. The latter appeared
disorganised and at times barely competent in handling simple matters
requiring quick and clear communication or basic organisation.
2. The number of interested prisoners was low (poor communication/encouragement?).
3. Resources provided were haphazard and little thought through.
Systems for recording what was done and following issues up were
random.
4. Liaison was an ongoing problem. HMP Buckley Hall seemed more
keen on meetings than on action.
5. At a ‘cards on the table’ meeting in early February,
HMP Buckley Hall staff promised an outline plan about how Rotarians
could be involved in helping prisoners by the end of February.
Neither a plan, nor an explanation of its lateness, were forthcoming.
6. Of the original 13 volunteers, several chose to resign from
the project out of frustration. Despite having conformed to extensive
security and identification checks, specialist training and other
prison requirements they felt under-used, and to some extent under-valued.
Two volunteers who had undergone three days training to mentor
prisoners likewise felt that they could have been better used.
Update
Jon Lövgreen (Ramsbottom) agreed to ‘hold the fort’ and
remain as Rotary liaison person to see if the project could be
resuscitated in some form. A meeting took place at HMP Buckley
Hall on April 24th with a Deputy Governor and representatives of
Probation, Drugs, Chaplaincy and Education teams. As a summary:
- We are assured that there is still a role – we are wanted
- A bureaucratic move has resulted in some volunteer security/identity
clearances being inadvertently lost/shredded: we shall have to
re-submit them
- The ‘plan’ produced was a crude matrix; the
theme of the meeting was “We are looking for ideas”:
an attempt to coordinate ideas and efforts. It was disappointing
that there was little detail
- I stated that from the Rotary viewpoint the tardiness, disorganisation
and sometimes incompetence were unacceptable; that two years
of effort had brought little progress; that volunteers were (quite
rightly) dwindling in number and enthusiasm; that District (and
indeed RIBI) interest in the project and widening it had largely
been lost
- The group suggested a two week pre-release course for prisoners
with components like accommodation, debt management, benefits,
employment, how to be a good tenant/family member, team building,
drugs and alcohol management
- I stated that Rotarians could possibly fill gaps (rather than
try to repeat or better what professionals could offer) by: offering
contacts/expert advice on specific issues, helping with CVs/mock
interviews, providing general mentoring
- HMP Buckley Hall staff committed to preparing and circulating
a more detailed programme for consideration, probably within
the next two weeks. I shall circulate this to past volunteers
and interested parties.
As ever, my thanks to Rotary volunteers and to 1280 clubs in general
for their interest in and tolerance of the project. My especial
thanks to Dean Sherriff (Rochdale), whose commitment and efforts
for the project have been unique and in the true spirit of Rotary.
JL 28th April 2008
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