Vicki Cardwell, CEO of the charity Spark Inside, has emphasised the need for culture change and staff investment within UK prisons. Her comments follow an interview with Pia Sinha, head of the Prison Reform Trust, regarding the challenges faced by jails.
Spark Inside, which uses life coaching for rehabilitation, has coached more than 150 prison staff since 2020. This training aims to support staff in problem-solving, resilience, and confidence, addressing the challenges of the prison environment.
The 2022 prisons white paper highlighted staff as key to making prisons safe and rehabilitative. Ms Cardwell noted that investing in staff wellbeing is crucial for making prisons more rehabilitative and preventing future victims.
Phil Hind from Edinburgh also commented on the issue, stating that while the prison population has increased, funding has declined. This has resulted in overcrowded prisons where more prisoners remain locked up with limited access to education or training.