Topic Community, Custodial
Date 04 Apr 2024
Heather Bryant, Regional Community and Social Impact Manager for Galliford Try’s Building Southern business, attended a roundtable discussion at the House of Commons with notable figures including Ruth Cadbury MP the Shadow Minister for Prisons and Probations.
The discussion was hosted by Nacro, a charity organisation offering support services for disadvantage individuals, including enhancing employment and training prospects within prisons to improve rehabilitation efforts. Topics ranged from strategies concerning Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) to advocating for increased participation from employers in establishing workshops within correctional facilities.
One noteworthy initiative discussed was the Construction Mentoring Partnering Scheme (CMPS), which was implemented at Galliford Try’s project site for constructing a facility for DHL at HMP High Down.
This innovative pilot scheme with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), was a first of its kind for the prison and the UK as a whole, by providing prisoners with valuable work placements during the construction phase, affording them opportunities to acquire new skills and potentially pursue careers in the construction sector post-release.
The success of the CMPS programme garnered recognition, receiving two accolades at the National Constructing Excellence Awards in the People Development and Value category, while Heather herself was honoured with the Community Champion Award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme Leading Light Awards for her exemplary contributions to CMPS last year.
Heather commented: "The Construction Mentoring Partnering Scheme (CMPS) exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration and innovation in creating meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration. It's not just about building structures; it's about rebuilding lives and is an important discussion to continuously have.
“I was delighted to be able to take part in the Nacro panel and discuss further what had made the scheme so successful. By sharing best practice and hearing about different perspectives from across the judicial system and within other sectors, we can all continue to refine our efforts and deliver social value programmes that help prisoners embark on productive next chapters in their lives."