Volunteer Supported Education (VSE) is a scheme using volunteer
tutors to help juvenile prisoners and young offenders improve
their literacy and numeracy skills through one to one sessions.
It was originally set up by the volunteering charity SOVA,
at the request of the head of education at the prison, and
was the model for the One to
One scheme at HMYOI Huntercombe.
One of the chief features of circumstances at Feltham is
the high turnover of prisoners: the average stay is less
than a month, although some stay for nine months or more.
Most of the learners referred to the scheme have only three
or four sessions, following an initial assessment to determine
their level of skills. Short and long-term objectives are
then set - the former designed to be achievable in two sessions,
and the latter in around four. The objectives might include
things like being able to write a letter or simply to recognise
a sentence, being able to use a dictionary, or learning
some new words, depending on which areas the learner most
wants to improve. Writing, reading, speaking, listening
and working on numeracy are covered. Each session lasts
for around two hours, so the session is often broken up
with a visit to the prison library - not necessarily to
borrow books, but just to show the learner what is on offer.
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An important feature of the boys' daily lives is the
photocopied TV guide taken from a newspaper. The prison
library has begun adding poems, advertisements for
its Big
Book Share scheme and extracts from books to the
back of this sheet, as a way of promoting conversation
about reading and books.
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The young men who take part in the scheme tend to be those
who do not cope well in a classroom situation, and who have
skills at a level below that being taught in the classes.
A challenge facing the volunteers is the lack of resources
suitable for young men at levels Entry 1 and 2. They therefore
make some of their own worksheets, geared toward the individual
learner. They also make use of the educational computer
games available in the library and in the VSE classroom.
The young offenders can refer themselves to the scheme
or are referred by prison staff: the scheme works hard to
raise awareness within the prison and gain the support of
prison officers. VSE may be asked to support a learner with
the studies he is already undertaking, in areas such as
cookery or painting and decorating. Two of the volunteers
work specifically with boys taking their NVQs in the motor
workshop.
Volunteers have a range of backgrounds and are a mix of
ages. A small number have the permission of their employers
to take half a day off work each week to take part in the
scheme. VSE uses volunteer bureaus, advertisements in libraries
and word of mouth to find its tutors.
The volunteers undertake an in-house training course lasting
seven full days, modelled on the City & Guilds 9281
initial certificate in teaching basic skills. Some prison
officers have also taken part in the training in order to
gain an understanding of the scheme. The course focuses
on the reluctant learner and covers:
- The reasons why some people do not succeed in conventional
learning, and how a little support can make an big difference
- The reading, writing and maths tasks and skills that
many people take for granted (such as reading newspapers
and magazines, using timetables and books such as the
A to Z, writing letters and lists, filling in forms and
estimating bills)
- Analysis of reading, writing, spelling and numeracy
skills, using phonics when necessary
- Programme and lesson planning, and creating individual
learning plans and objectives
- The difficulties of working in a prison, as well as
with teenagers who are disengaged but thrive on one to
one support
- The resources provided in the VSE classroom and by Skills
for Life, and how to evaluate their usefulness
VSE's manager believes that it is essential for a scheme
like this to have a passionate and enthusiastic team to
drive it. The manager is responsible for running the scheme
and ensuring that as many prisoners can access it as possible,
and for selecting, training and supporting the volunteers.
The VSE staff believe that the scheme is a good model and
encourage anyone thinking of setting up something similar
to get in touch with them.
The prison recognises the value of the scheme and took steps
to secure the positions of the paid manager and part-time
staff when funding from SOVA came to an end. The manager
is employed by the college holding the education contract
at the prison, but for operational matters and issues connected
with the volunteers, line management is through the prison.
- For more information contact Pip Deverson, VSE Manager,
on 020 8844 5456 (or the switchboard on 020 8844 5000)
or write to HMYOI Feltham, Bedfont Road, Feltham, Middlesex
TW13 4ND
- For an article from The Guardian featuring VSE visit
http://society.guardian.co.uk/youthjustice
- More on...
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Volunteer Supported Education, HMYOI Feltham