Sixteen prisoners at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone have completed a 10-week football coaching programme delivered by Wolves Foundation, earning a qualification they can use when they are released.
The course, a mix of theory and practical work, is part of the Twinning Project, a partnership between HM Prison and Probation Service and professional football clubs that aims to twin every prison in England and Wales with a local professional club.
Former Wolves captain and Foundation ambassador Karl Henry joined the final week. He took part in a Q&A about his career and modern coaching, led a session himself and then joined the game that rounded off the course.
"Some of the guys were talking about how they want to use the qualification upon their release, and from all the discussions it sounds like it's been a really positive experience," said Karl, who is on his own coaching journey after winning promotion last season with Boldmere St Michaels Women.
The Twinning Project was launched in 2018 by David Dein, former vice-chairman of Arsenal and the FA. Wolves Foundation has delivered several cohorts at HMP Oakwood and HMP Brinsford in recent years, and the work is now part of its Building Brighter Futures project, which aims to improve physical health, wellbeing and financial wellbeing and to increase employability across Wolverhampton.
Farhad Olaleye, Relationship Lead on the Twinning Project, said: "The aim of the Twinning Project is to engage prisoners in football-based programmes to improve their mental and physical health, wellbeing and obtain a qualification to increase their life chances and gain employment on release."
Participants deliver sessions in front of their peers and can go on to complete safeguarding and first aid modules after release.
Sarah-Louise Evans, Senior Employability Officer at Wolves Foundation, said: "We have really enjoyed leading another cohort in partnership with the Twinning project, which has been a really worthwhile project for everyone involved."
Another cohort will start in the New Year, with the Foundation and HMP Oakwood linking up again to take prisoners through the qualification.
It is a clear example of sport for good: a club foundation using football to give people in prison a qualification, better health and a route into work on release.
Source: Express & Star https://www.expressandstar.com/news/wolves-foundation-prisoners-release-9338290