on the inside

We've been using the consultation toolkit (see below) with prisoners and staff on the inside in HMP Everthorpe today.  Last minute panic when I found out you can't take a plan of the prison into the prison, but some sticky tape and card sorted that out.  It was an incredibly productive day, with both groups engaging fully and positively in the process and the toolkit worked brilliantly as a means to explore the possibilities on the site.  Unfortunately cameras aren't allowed in either, so no pics, but next week we're doing the same exercise with employers, public and voluntary sector organisations and local residents, so watch this space.

opening night

The UEL architecture show opened on Wednesday night.  Congratulations to the students for pulling it together: it looks great.

our MAASD / production of place installation in 'the box'

Consultation and engagement in HMP Everthorpe

I've been working as part of the RSA Transitions team at HMP Everthorpe in East Riding.  The objective of the project is simple: to reduce re-offending in those leaving prison, but of course its a complex area that is stubbornly resistant to policy initiatives.  The recent Government proposal in this area is the reconfiguring and privatisation of probation services.  Some of the changes make a lot of sense but the subtitle (a revolution in the way we manage offenders) hints at other problems.  The paper acknowledges some of the potential pitfalls of wholesale privatisation and payment by results and proposes ways to deal with them, but changing both what is delivered and how it is delivered throws all the balls up in the air, so I don't believe anyone really knows how they will land.  Its a new context for us to engage with, though and provides a potential for social enterprises to deliver these services, as well as commercial contractors.

Last week we tested out my 'consultation toolkit' which some of the prisoners helped to build in the prison workshops.  It takes the form of a game, using a lightbox and various models to explore different concepts for how Transitions will work on the site.  It seems to work well and next week we'll be consulting in the prison with prisoners and prison staff, then out in the community and with local businesses and public sector organisations.  

shaping up for the show

Its always mixed emotions this time of year, with all the formal work out of the way and the show to look forward to.  Particularly so this year, without Mark Hayduk who died in 2012.  Seeing the work from Mark's unit at the end of the year used to be the highlight so it is difficult to move on.

There has been some outstanding work this year though and there's the usual last-minute panic to put the show together - its always amazing that it does come together in the end.  Opening night Wednesday 19th from 6pm.