Canterbury ex-prisoners to become health trainers

HMP Canterbury will be launching a new re-skilling programme for foreign inmates to be trained in first aid.

The International Health Trainers Re- Settlement Scheme will aim to give the prisoners a chance to gain a qualification which would then lead to possible employment. The community interest company Civvy Street will provide the necessary link between the collaborating organisations which will include HMPS, the local NHS lead Trust, the Home Office, University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and possibly the Red Cross.

Paul March, retired principal officer at HMP Canterbury and co-founder of Civvy Street said: “This project in essence will be to train people and offenders in custody and individuals from the wider external community in first aid and as trainers of first aid. Red Cross have indicated a very strong likelihood of employing those successful in the UK and abroad.”

HM Prison Canterbury has been responsible for housing 314 foreign adult male inmates since 2006, all of whom are considered for deportation by UK Border Agency (UKBA).

“It was thought that the percentage of discharged offenders that remain in the UK is about 14% - 18%.  Now we know that this percentage is significantly higher, around 50%, due to those that are released from the detention centre estate following the outcome of UKBA decisions,” added Mr Marsh.

With such a high number of ex-inmates staying in the country, the key objectives of the project are to address these important re-settlement issues. By utilising the UK facilitated return scheme the project would enable ex-offenders who have obtained the health trainer qualification to be given an assured appropriate community based health trainer role by their national government or other nominated sponsoring organisations in the UK.

The scheme will also enhance the health training capacity of foreign national students at University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University who will be specifically trained to deliver the training programme within the prison.