Kainos Community
Charity Number: 1076206. Limited Company: 3771649
Chief Executive: Tricia Rogers. Tel: - 01928 500 797
Email - Kainos Community
Operations Director: Mike Philips. Mobile: 07918632337/8
Charity Number: 1076206. Limited Company: 3771649
Chief Executive: Tricia Rogers. Tel: -
Volunteers prepare for an evening with the participants
News from Swaleside.
In 1997 I was invited to attend a meeting at Swaleside as part of a small team to discuss ways of bringing something new to the prison. This was following the successful introduction of Kainos Community at HMP The Verne. A year on all the preparations had been finalised and I came to work here on a full time basis developing a programme of courses for volunteer prisoner participants on B Wing.
I never ever thought at that time that I would still be here eight years later but the work is so fulfilling and enjoyable that I wake up every morning eager to get to my office in the prison and meet the men in the Community. I wonder how many people wake up in that frame of mind – eager to get to work.
What do we do?
At Swaleside we are fortunate to be able to run our programme on a full time basis which we means we are able to be with the participants all day every day engaged in course and group work. We have thirty new men and 6 mentors from a previous programme at any one time for nearly six months and run two programmes a year.
The Community are self regulating making their own rules for living and working together which are over and above the prison rules. They elect their own President, Vice President and Secretary as well as Spur representatives. These are responsible for, among other things, good order and discipline within the Community. All members have a responsibility for keeping the living areas clean.
We are very fortunate to have a number of loyal volunteers who come in every week for our Social Development evening and twice a year for the Good Neighbour Weekend. They really do make a difference and the men are so appreciative.
None of this could happen if it were not for the tremendous support we have from the B Wing and other prison staff from the No.1 Governor, Stephen O’Connell down.
The challenge to change we offer, through the courses is not an easy option. The participants are encouraged to look at their lives, their behaviour, attitudes and views and establish goals to be better people and to live honest, respectful lives. I have a sense we all need to do that from time to time – take a look at ourselves.
In my time here I feel I have grown, I have changed and I know I have learnt a lot about life from the five hundred plus men who have been through the programme. One thing I do not want to change is my job.
I never ever thought at that time that I would still be here eight years later but the work is so fulfilling and enjoyable that I wake up every morning eager to get to my office in the prison and meet the men in the Community. I wonder how many people wake up in that frame of mind – eager to get to work.
What do we do?
At Swaleside we are fortunate to be able to run our programme on a full time basis which we means we are able to be with the participants all day every day engaged in course and group work. We have thirty new men and 6 mentors from a previous programme at any one time for nearly six months and run two programmes a year.
The Community are self regulating making their own rules for living and working together which are over and above the prison rules. They elect their own President, Vice President and Secretary as well as Spur representatives. These are responsible for, among other things, good order and discipline within the Community. All members have a responsibility for keeping the living areas clean.
We are very fortunate to have a number of loyal volunteers who come in every week for our Social Development evening and twice a year for the Good Neighbour Weekend. They really do make a difference and the men are so appreciative.
None of this could happen if it were not for the tremendous support we have from the B Wing and other prison staff from the No.1 Governor, Stephen O’Connell down.
The challenge to change we offer, through the courses is not an easy option. The participants are encouraged to look at their lives, their behaviour, attitudes and views and establish goals to be better people and to live honest, respectful lives. I have a sense we all need to do that from time to time – take a look at ourselves.
In my time here I feel I have grown, I have changed and I know I have learnt a lot about life from the five hundred plus men who have been through the programme. One thing I do not want to change is my job.
Steve Hook
Programme Manager
Programme Manager