Developing a career in custody at Long Lartin prison
Long Lartin prison are running a pilot scheme providing a Prisoner Information Advice and Guidance (PIAG’s) service in partnership with Ixion part of Shaw Trust, delivering the Level 3 Advice and Guidance qualification for prisoners.
“PIAG’s are a vital role within prison to support prisoners who have low levels of education and learning difficulties.”
Why Prison education offers more than future employment opportunities
Long Lartin, category A high security men’s prison based in Evesham, Worcestershire houses over 600 prisoners in single rooms (GovUK,2022). PIAG’s support prisoners with personal development in custody by gaining skills, education and training. Over recent years policy announcements have been made to improve the standard of learning within prisons. In 2016 Governors, senior leaders, teachers, prison officers, instructors and peer mentors must be given appropriate professional development to support them to deliver high quality education (ParliamentUk, 2022).
Long Lartin prison have been running a pilot scheme providing Prisoner Information Advice and Guidance (PIAG’s) service. Securing the PIAG role is a prestigious achievement for prisoners and they will on completion receive a Level 3 Advice and Guidance certificate. When a prisoner starts their sentence with Long Lartin a development plan is put in place and prisoners have access to keyworkers and NVQ qualifications. Prisoners are keen to learn practical skills such as construction, plumbing and joinery skills. PIAG’s assist prisoners on a one-to-one basis with advice and guidance to develop their skills whilst serving time and help prisoners to settle into their life inside prison through removing barriers. They are trusted prisoners and develop good working relationships between prisoners and governors. Every month they have meetings with governors where they can raise issues about the prison wing to the department. There are currently eight PIAG roles at Long Lartin prison to support prisoners and help prepare inmates for a career in custody from learning new skills such as textiles, cleaning jobs, laundry, kitchens and education mentors.
How PIAG's support prisoners
• Job search training.
• Vocational education and training.
• Sign posting to services such as Shannon Trust and Samaritans.
• Skills development training including numeracy and literacy skills.
• Assist with writing and reading letters for prisoners to feel less isolated.
PIAG’s are a vital role within prison to support prisoners who have low levels of education and learning difficulties. Dyslexia affects 6.3 million people, equivalent to 10% of the UK population (GovUK, 2017). According to data there are 87,550 people currently in prison across the UK (Commons Library, 2021). For those serving time in prison, dyslexia could be as high as 50% of the prison population (Centre for social justice, 2021) and prisoners have a reading age lower than an 11-year-old (GovUK, 2022). Low reading levels can limit the prisoners’ ability to navigate life in prison as they may struggle to access written information, fill out forms including find it difficult to stay in contact with family and friends which puts them at risk of becoming isolated (HM Inspectorate, 2022). PIAG’s help to remove those barriers by assisting prisoners with reading and writing which can include letters from home, legal correspondence to filling out meal forms for the week.
About Career Development Professionals
Our range of Career Development Professional qualifications are aimed at raising the standard for delivering good quality careers advice and guidance for schools and colleges. We are proud to provide equal opportunities for all and are supporting Long Lartin prison delivering the Level 3 Advice and Guidance qualification.