How HMP Hollesley Bay builds digital and employability skills

The challenge: teaching in a Category D prison with no internet and reluctant learners

HM Prison Hollesley Bay is a Category D open prison, home to around 640 prisoners, and it offers a wide choice of education and training to its residents. Delivering that education is not without its challenges. Even with innovative solutions, the lack of internet access poses a significant barrier, limiting the scope of further digital education. And there is a common resistance to learning among the prison’s inmates, often rooted in past negative educational experiences, inability to read and write, or a deep-seated fear of looking foolish.

The solution: a flexible “pick and mix”, from EDSQ to neurodiverse peer mentoring

HMP Hollesley Bay offers comprehensive and accessible qualifications, with a flexible approach that enables tailored delivery to meet the unique needs of its population. Among the core courses is the Action for Employment course, made of a “pick and mix” of Gateway Qualifications key units. The course is mandatory for those seeking external employment and encompasses skills like CV writing, job application techniques, and interview preparation.

Understanding the digital divide is especially prevalent in prisons. Gateway Qualifications was the first to be able to introduce Essential Digital Skills Qualifications (EDSQ) into the prison estate. Ranging from entry level to level one, EDSQ is pivotal for inmates, many of whom have been out of touch with the rapidly advancing digital world. Despite the absence of internet access, a significant hurdle, EDSQ is delivered in an innovative way for the prison estate, preparing prisoners for a world where digital literacy is absolutely essential.

Another innovative aspect of HMP Hollesley Bay’s offerings is the inclusion of Gateway Qualifications’ neurodiverse units in their peer mentoring courses, catering to conditions like Asperger’s, ADHD, and dyslexia.

One of the strengths of working with Gateway Qualifications lies in their flexibility. The qualifications allow adjustments to suit individual needs and circumstances, making learning more accessible and relevant to inmates. This flexibility has been crucial in delivering courses like employability and progression, where prisons like HMP Hollesley Bay can choose from different units, tailor-made to their prisoners’ journeys towards rehabilitation.

The results: vital skills, and inmates mentoring their peers

The clearest result is in peer mentoring. The neurodiverse units empower inmate classroom assistants, called “orderlies”, to become effective peer mentors. This initiative enhances the learning environment and fosters an inclusive community where learners’ needs are acknowledged and catered to. Through its “pick and mix” offer and innovative qualifications like EDSQ, HMP Hollesley Bay is supporting its inmates to master vital skills, essential for their journey back into society. The collaboration is evidence that education and training transforms lives.