IJP's parent organisation Media for Development is embarking on an ambitious 2-year project to support the resettlement of older prisoners. It will develop and produce a multi-media information pack and a sustainable training scheme to encourage older prisoners across England to support each other in preparation for release.

Funded by Comic Relief, the project was developed in partnership with NACRO in response to findings by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and a report the Prisons Reform Trust published titled Doing Time. The report found that people aged over 60 are the fastest growing demographic in prison (the male prison population over the age of 60 has more than trebled in the past decade), and yet their needs are the least understood. One of the report’s key recommendations is that better resettlement advice needs to be provided to this group of people on release from prison, as they are likely to be the most institutionalized.

In response, Media for Development has developed a project with older people to be produced and delivered by older people. Activities will include:

- A UK-wide scheme open to all older prisoners which will encourage the submission of short stories/poems/artwork which illustrate a resettlement issue of concern to them. We will use this as a creative and participatory process for identifying themes from as wide a cross-section of older prisoners as possible.

- The development and production of 5 audio plays which will cover the key issues identified through the scheme. A team of professional script-writers and actors will work alongside groups of older prisoners to brainstorm ideas collectively, create characters, storylines, scenes, and scripts, combining professional production values with the raw talent of novice script-writers and actors in prison.

- The research/development of exercises which will prompt reflection and discussion on the different themes raised through the audio plays, and the research/development of regional fact-sheets with key information and contacts relating to resettlement.

- Production of multi-media resettlement information packs containing CD copies of audio plays, prompt cards, and regional fact-sheets.

- Training of trainers (older prisoners) in the use of the resettlement packs with other older prisoners pre-release.

The project will be piloted in prisons in the South-West Region of England before being rolled out nationally. For more information email Rachel Bailey, Development Director or call 0207 033 2170.