MAIDSTONE IS GREEN When they built the new kitchen the building was equipped with state of the art recycling and energy/ resource conservation techniques. This includes energy recycling and rain water harvesting.We visited to speak wth the Estates Manager to find out what was involved.

PRISONERS EDUCATION TRUST Prisoners Education Trust was established in 1989, the brainchild of the two founders, David Burton and Vernon Cocking. They had become disillusioned with the narrow range of classes on offer to prisoners, and with colleagues considered how a broader education could be provided. Nina Champion, Learning Matters Project Manager, of the Prisoners Education Trust writes on the concept of ‘working prisons’ and how this fits with learning and skills.

REAL WORK IN PRISONS? The Howard League in 2005 with the support of the Prison Service, launched a unique graphic design social enterprise. This initiative was part of a campaign and was a bold and path-breaking response to the widely acknowledged failure of prison work.Prisoners contributed 30% of their wages into a fund which made charitable contributions. It flourished and the prisoners/employees paid tax and NI until the Prison Service decided that prisoner could not pay tax or National Insurance. Despite a government commitment to introduce real work in prison, they have introduced a 40% deduction for prisoners who are in paid employment. Sophie Willets of the League writes on the effect of the changes on the scheme.

HMP FOREST BANK. Sally Houghton, Head of Offender Management and Risk at HMP Forest Bank, who were cited by HMCIP in their last unannounced Inspection as being one of the most outward facing prisons in the country. They have prison officers who spend significant parts of their working week in the community and their Partners see Forest Bank as an extension of their own working place by frequently seeing offenders in the OMU. Sally writes on how they achieved this.

ELECTRIC FROM FOOD WASTE? Yarlswood Immigration centre is run by Serco. The company claims it operates all its sites on environmental sustainable policies wherever possible. A system of generating electric from food waste has been established. We interview Clive Dodds, the Manager responsible for recycling and energy.

EDUCATION IN PRISONS A report on Employer's attitudes to recruiting ex-offenders: highlighting how employers believe they have a civic duty to employ and help re-integrate ex-offenders, but lack confidence in their potential abilities and the education and re-training they receive in prison. a highly influential article by the CfBT Education Trust.

NEXT EDITION

PRISON DOGS. The East of England have won both the Passive and the Pro-active drug dog elements at the Prison Service National Dog Trials that were held at Newbold Revel.
These results can only underpin the East of England's reputation for producing high quality working and dogs. During the trials East of England was approached by several regions and dignitaries who praised them not only on results but also on the recent foresight to add the IBAD dogs to their 'bag of tricks'

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT New and challenging Government targets aimed at achieving, among other things, reductions in emissions, water consumption and waste by 2015 were introduced in February 2011 NOMS, through implementing Carbon Management Plans for both the Prison and Probation Services, continues to make significant steps in its operational response to the Government’s environmental agenda as well as integrating sustainable development into everyday business and playing its part in contributing to the MoJ’s own sustainability aims. This article looks at progress and projects.

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Purchasing for this marketplace is not all fixed to central contracts. As the spending on the police increases and prison population continues to rise, it will continue to be a huge and growing market for new goods and services. For instance, the Department of Education has allocated a £20 million fund for capital and expenditure across all 110 prisons. This is an average of £200,000 per prison is to improve the education facilities for offenders.