There are a number of community meetings that are held as part of the ‘Challenge to Change Programme’. The structured format provides a forum for problem solving and the expression of negative feelings. Knowing that this forum exists helps residents keep their behaviour in check.

Aim of meetings:
To create an environment that enables prisoners to develop mutual respect, and
support for themselves and others, to identify and resolve problems that may affect the spur / dormitory / community.

To assemble the Community showing residents that they are part of a whole, while allowing staff an opportunity to observe prison residents in this setting.

To assimilate residents into the orderly nature of the Community.

To challenge specific negative behaviour that needs modification.

To persuade the person who is challenged to take responsibility for that negative behaviour.

To help the person identify honestly the feelings underlying the negative behaviour.

To facilitate the person's commitment to change his behaviour in the future.

To encourage the person to accept the community's support in setting realistic goals.

Objective of meetings:
Develop leadership skills and communication skills, to challenge inappropriate behaviour and encourage problem solving by thinking through and implementing solutions.

These meetings develop a greater capacity to cope with living in a social community and indeed, the prison community. Disputes and personality clashes can be resolved in an orderly fashion, prison residents also learn anger management and conflict resolution. Another aspect of these meetings is that residents learn that their behaviour has an effect on others and that they belong to a larger social community than they had previously realised. While residents need to take responsibility for the meetings and not overly rely on the programme staff, the staff are involved in the meetings and help to facilitate the process which includes the following goals.