Work in prisons

3 February 2010

From Autumn 2005 to summer 2007, Y Care International's global youth work team worked with YMCA Prisons Unit projects in Young Offenders Institutions across England, including New Hall and Wetherby. The aim of the project was to bring a global perspective to the lives of young offenders.

Linking with Y Care International's Youth Justice in Action campaign, this project has linked young men and women inside UK prisons with young people and YMCAs around the world to support the rights of young people in conflict with the law. Countries involved are Honduras, Ireland, Togo, Sierra Leone and South Africa.

What are we doing?
In February 2007, young men in HMYOI Wetherby compared their experiences with those of disadvantaged young people in Honduras, who are being arrested and imprisoned for up to 12 years under an anti-gangs law, many without trial. For many young people, just having a gang-related tattoo is enough to be arrested and imprisoned. They found out that in deprived, urban neighbourhoods, young Honduran people are not only vulnerable to imprisonment but extra-judicial killing by rival gangs, militia groups and security forces.

Common issues which arose included the call for young people not to be stigmatised, for all young offenders to feel safe and free from harm, respected and listened to:

‘We think it's preposterous how they treat young people [in prison in Honduras]. We think the Honduran government should put up facilities for the young people to stop them from committing crime, and stop the tattoo law. We also think they should stop the mistreatment of the young people in Honduras.' Young man from Wetherby young offenders institute

Outcomes
As a result of the project:
• Young people were able to access and discuss films concerning youth justice issues in  countries as far and wide as Brazil and South Africa
• Young people who are not used to participative methods are learning that their opinions count
• Young people who rarely have their voices sought are having their voices heard on a global scale. For example, young women in New Hall Prison, West Yorkshire wrote and added their support to YMCA campaigners in Honduras

In late 2009, we also ran a project on gangs in a South London prison. Read more here.
Download a case study on the New Hall Young Offenders Institute project:
Global Youth Work Behind Bars