Introduction:
Kainos Community was introduced in HMP The Verne in April 1997, and it was successful in transforming a very negative environment into a positive one.  

Brief history:
The Verne is a category C training prison for adult males. Originally a citadel fortress it was taken over as a prison in 1949 using the casements in the citadel defences for dormitory accommodation and workshops. Purpose built house blocks were constructed in the early 1970's.The prison takes a wide range of prisoners particularly foreign nationals and over 80 life sentence inmates with an operational capacity of 577 men

The ‘Challenge to Change’ Programme is housed in the original casements, where 72 men living in 9 dormitories work together in a community that challenges men to develop tolerance and respect whilst addressing their offending behaviour
The programme at the Verne runs as a rollover programme that enhances the prison regime by incorporating an offending behaviour programme with normal wing routines. This means that a lot of the practical community living elements of the Challenge to Change Programme are done in the participants own time.

Address:

Mr Steve Clay
Kainos Community Manager
HMP The Verne
Portland
Dorset
DT5 1EQ

Tel: 01305 - 825118 (Kainos Office)

News From The Verne
Steve Clay reports on a programme owned by the men...