We were recently pleased to invite 26 students from Years 7-10 to be involved in a workshop day with the ‘Prison Me No Way’ organisation.
The day involved 3 recently retired prison guards and a category D prisoner visiting The Farnley Academy to deliver workshops on knife crime, gangs, prison life, and the opportunity to go inside the ‘cell in a van’.
The first workshop of the day involved students speaking to the category D prisoner. He spoke about his story from being in school, and the students had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. These questions were very well thought out and students were commended for their depth of question.
The workshop that followed was about knives and gangs. Students had the opportunity to see images of crimes relating to gangs and knives, and saw videos of how these things have impacted on victims and their families. This workshop was particularly hard hitting for students and made them really think about making good choices.
The final workshop of the day was a chance for students to enter the ‘cell in a van’. This was a real life size cell, with everything in it from the bed, a sink, and even a toilet. Students were shocked at how small and basic it was. It certainly seemed to make students think about how tough it is to live in those conditions!
Students were commended by the Prison Me No Way staff for their engagement in the whole day, and how they all began to open up and have frank conversations about difficult topics. We hope to work closely with the Prison Me No Way team in the future.
Mr Hill (Inclusion and Safeguarding Leader)