Spark Inside on LinkedIn: Prisons need to change. Over the next three years we will continue to… (2024)

We are so pleased to share that another seven young men have completed their Hero's Journey at HMP High Down! Led by coaches and co-facilitators Lilian Flynn and Alex Kergall, the Hero's Journey workshops offer participants a genuine taste for the approach, goals and power of coaching.100% of the participants have decided to continue with one-to-one coaching with either Lilian or Alex, using the space to further reflect on their own journeys and plan for futures that excite them. This can often be the first time someone has asked these young people: what are you good at? What's important to you?Young people in HMP High Down who have taken part in Hero's Journey have said:"Hero's Journey means finding yourself together with others", and "It really raised my spirits".

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Last year we published the Being Well Being Equal (BWBE)report, focusing on the wellbeing of young men in custody, and particularly highlighting the experiences of young Black men in prison. The first chapter of the report focuses on trauma, mental health and wellbeing for young people in custody, and highlights the disproportionate number of young men entering custody with complex health and/or wellbeing needs. Young people told us:"You never know what a person has gone through. It all stems from when they were younger… There is not a lot of looking at how prisoners think and why."And:"Young men never have an outlet and sometimes you build up so much emotion in your head… as men we struggle, there is so much ego and pride – no-one has ever told us it’s okay to talk about how you are feeling."Read the report for more ➡ https://bit.ly/BWBEreport And click here to see the recommendations following our round table discussion on the report ➡ https://lnkd.in/eAgXxEZn #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

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A prison officer told us after they received Spark Inside coaching:“I was virtually on the verge of burning out, I tired myself out, and even when I wasn’t at work, all I was doing was thinking about work. And it was nice to have life coaching and think about career stuff, and actually not have to talk about work, it was other stuff that I was passionate about, that I cared about.”When we evaluated our work coaching prison staff, our coaches told us told us that stress and anxiety were the most prevalent issues that prison staff wanted help with, and we heard from participants how helpful the sessions were in learning about ways to deal with that stress.Another staff member said “I’m happy to get up in the morning and go to work!”While the prison workforce faces significant challenges, Spark Inside coaching can be avaluable resource to support staff wellbeing and resilience, who in turn play avital role in ensuring the wellbeing of those in custody. A member of prison staff shared after receiving coaching:"I'm able to ask questions differently... and I think I'm quite liked by the boys, they feel they can talk to me, and I like it, it's good for me . . . I can ask how do you actually feel? Then they soon open up, and they tell you the truth . . . They all like to talk to me, it's given me a lot of confidence how to deal with people."Improving relationships between staff and people in custody promotes positive emotional wellbeing all-round!Read the evaluation here ➡ https://lnkd.in/dwBDw9Cy#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

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💡 Coaching isn't just about skills development; it's about increasingfeelings of hopefulness, improving self esteem and reducing anxiety!A young person who received Spark Inside coaching in prison shared:"I now feel a lot less anxious and stressed. The invaluable tools I've acquired help me steady myself, fostering a sense of control and balance."Coaching can also support the building of a positive self-identity, which is fundamental to good emotional wellbeing. One young person told us:“It really made me more optimistic about life and what I could achieve. I learnt things about myself I didn’t know like my values and discovered strengths I didn’t realise I had.”While young people in custody have distinct needs, they also possess unique strengths and huge potential, and are at a critical time in their transition to adulthood.This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, we're highlighting how coaching can be a hugely effective tool in improving mental health and wellbeing for young people and prison staff - look out for our posts to learn more! 👀

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Love this photo from our Black Hero's Journey coach training - final day!We are incredibly excited to welcome an excellent new group of coaches, specially trained to deliver our innovative Black Hero's Journey programme. Spark Inside coach Samuel Onagoruwa says:"If you’re the smartest in the room you should leave. On this occasion, I had to stay firmly put!!! What a fantastic experience. The future and the vision for the Black Hero's Journey is limitless. What a talented new cohort of coaches. This can only benefit the coachee experience."Huge thanks to Jeffrey Wotherspoon (CfPAC, ILM) for leading the training, to our experienced BHJ coaches Samuel and Michael, and our Service Delivery Manager Elijah O. Williams! 🎉 Maurice H. Yearwood, Ph.D.Milca M.Zaneta I.Clifton McDonaldFrank Bolaji Irawo 🎉

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Our coaches Michael and Lilian have delivered a successful Hero's Journey programme in HMP Wormwood Scrubs!Seven young men completed the workshops, in which they are encouraged to work with their own experiences to understand where they are in their life ‘journey’. The young people will now choose a coach to begin one-to-one sessions with. Our coaches empower young people to see the opportunities that lie ahead; identify where they can make positive change; successfully overcome challenges and struggles; and develop a plan to navigate their way forward.We wish them all the best on their coaching journey 💫

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We are so proud to be working with ELEVATE CJS, offering coaching to leaders with lived experience as they take on the exciting leadership programme!Our coaches Violet Black, Michael G. Roper, Caterina Declas and Tony Phillips began with Hero's Journey workshops, and will continue with one-to-one coaching sessions throughout the programme, giving leaders space explore their values, set goals and reflect.Read about one ELEVATE CJS leader's positive experience with coaching on our website here! ➡ https://lnkd.in/eEh-2vgUGreat to be working with you, Criminal Justice Alliance 💫

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We were honoured to welcome Sonia Brooks OBE as a guest speaker at our recent gathering of Spark Inside staff and coaches!In conversation with Luke Carey, Sonia shared her career journey from prison officer, to governor, to leadership roles in HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Sonia shared her views on the importance of culture in prisons and how this can be built and modelled [a focus in our new strategy - https://lnkd.in/eKBHJcsH]. We were greatly encouraged by Sonia about the value of our work with young people.Huge thanks to Sonia for her time and unique insights!We want our coaches to feel enthusiastic about their work coaching young people in prison, and valued as intrinsic parts of our organisation.Thank you to our amazing coaches for making the time to attend this day of connection and sharing of wisdom, we appreciate you! Finally, thank you to Nina Bainbridge for her excellent facilitation 💫

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It was an honour to chat to Frankco Harris about his experience participating in the ELEVATE CJS leadership programme, and receiving Spark Inside coaching!"ELEVATE CJS was about me reclaiming my power. I’m always thinking about my purpose and how Ican use my experience to make an impact, how Ican turn pain into purpose, and this felt likethat.”We delivered an adapted Hero's Journey workshop for the leaders, followed by one-to-one coaching. Frankco shared:"It was incredible to have aspace where others help you to see what you can’t see in yourself. It’s atestament to the skill of the coach to facilitate agroup session that holds aspace to allow us intimacy, allowing others to see you in avulnerable way, which is actually really empowering."We encourage you to read Frankco's story now to learn more about the power of coaching! ➡ https://lnkd.in/eEh-2vgU

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