The Conversation
The Conversation® is our systems coaching programme for large groups of prison staff and prisoners to enhance their relationships, improve empathy, and support sustained, positive cultural change on prison wings.
Systems coaching looks beyond individual behaviour, to the interactions between individuals, and the effect their relationships have on their environment. Through a facilitated systems coaching process, prisoners and prison staff on a prison wing come together to decide on issues they want to solve, to create a more rehabilitative culture and a safer working environment.
During our workshops, our systems coaches create the space for open and honest conversations about how daily life can improve for everyone living and working on the wing, and how prisoners and prison officers can collaborate to make change happen. On finishing the programme, they have tangible actions they can implement to transform their environment and culture on the wing.
Creating safer and rehabilitative prison environments benefits both prison officers and prisoners. As well as enhancing the wellbeing of prison staff, a rehabilitative prison wing provides the foundation for prisoners to turn their lives around, making them less likely to reoffend. The Conversation has been proven to improve empathy and understanding, and ultimately, their relationship — as well as a 81% increase in prisoners’ positive behaviour.
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Prison staff coaching
During the pandemic, for the first time, we began offering life coaching to prison staff. In 2020, when prisons entered a ‘double lockdown’ and only prison staff were able to offer support and care to those living in prison, we believed it was important for our passionate and skilled life coaches to talk to staff.
Over 150 hours of coaching were delivered to staff and the vast majority (94%) of staff coached reported making progress in their lives, including improved stress levels and emotional wellbeing and better interactions with people living in prison.
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Peer to Peer coaching
Our upcoming Peer to Peer coaching programme is set to equip people living in prison with coaching skills and qualifications. We will be developing this programme with people who have lived experience of prison, and we believe that it will help to embed a coaching mindset and culture in the prisons, which will make rehabilitation possible.
