Providing a bridge back to the community
Almost 70% of male prisoners reoffend – and this is linked to lack of education, training, employment and family contact. The aim of the PRA is to use prison radio to tackle these issues by involving prisoners in education, developing their skills and confidence, and “providing a bridge back to the community”.
When the PRA approached the Foundation for funding, they were beginning to build links with other prisons, local radio stations and partner charities – as well as trying to raise core funding. But they needed a more central driving force and source of support in order to improve the charity’s sustainability.
A crucial step in going forward
The Foundation’s grant helped to fund the salary of the first staff member – the Chief Executive. The role was a crucial one in going forward as it involved overseeing and delivering a number of key projects. These included working with the National Union of Journalists to develop an accredited radio training course for prisoners, supporting prisons in developing prison radios, establishing a National Prison Radio Network and building links with a number of influential partners such as the BBC.
"Justice isn't served only when an offender enters prison. It is served through rehabilitation of offenders and by providing opportunities to help people to stop offending. Radio is a very effective communications medium to promote education opportunities. And prison radio can be an effective and innovative way to engage offenders in education, regardless of age, origin, gender or faith."
(Phil Maguire, Chief Executive)
Want to find out more? Visit www.prisonradioassociation.org
