As we’ve been watching the Olympics over the past two weeks, many of us have been struck by the discussions in the media coverage about mental health. From the frank interview with swimmer Adam Peaty about his struggles, to the candid Netflix documentary about gymnast Simone Biles, there has been a renewed focus on how to prioritise wellbeing of the brain, as well as the body.
The importance of wellbeing in prison has been the focus of our ‘Being Well, Being Equal’ campaign, as we know coaching can help. As one of the young men taking part in the Hero’s Journey, who missed the gym to attend a Spark Inside coaching session, said ‘This is a workout for my mind!’
The International Olympic Committee have been making systemic efforts to provide psychologically safe environments. Dr. Rosie Meek, in her review of sports in prison in 2018, found that the gym can be a psychological ‘safe space’ within a prison, where the relaxed environment is often more conducive to conversations with officers than on the wing.
With that in mind, this year, with the generous support of the Triangle Trust, we are piloting a programme delivering coaching skills workshops with gym staff in a London prison. This professional development opportunity includes mapping their conversational style; finding coaching moments in their role at work; learning how to listen for feelings and values; and asking quality questions.
The HMPPS Rehabilitative Culture model promotes the use of coaching skills by staff to help build positive relationships and support people in prison to make positive decisions and successfully manage their lives. The prison gym staff feedback has been very positive:
‘I’ve learnt that helping someone to think is more powerful than telling them what to do’
‘It’s the first time I’ve been measured on how good my listening is, I’ve learnt a lot from this training.’
‘I can’t remember the last time I’ve received a certificate; we are usually the ones giving them out, thank you.’
Meek’s 2018 review also found that many PE staff reported feeling under-valued and there was evidence of disengagement and low staff morale. Offering professional development opportunities can help prison staff feel valued, improving motivation and retention. To that end, following our workshops, staff have been offered one-to-one coaching, providing them with a space to reflect on their interactions with the men in their care and focus on ways to improve their own wellbeing.
As the new prisons minister Lord James Timpson OBE said in his maiden speech, ‘I have found over the years that, when you care for people, they care back. It is an approach I intend to bring to this job in how I support the thousands of front-line prison and probation staff working hard in the system every day to keep the public safe.’ We hope that coaching will be part of this offer for all prison staff, including those in the gym.
We are delighted to have Dr Rosie Meek evaluating our coaching with prison gym staff. We look forward to learning from her findings and sharing them with you.
In the meantime, from all of us at Spark Inside, congratulations to Team GB.
