INTERNATIONAL PRISON WORK

The services that have been offered to staff as well as to prisoners, here in the UK, have provided templates for both individuals and organisations abroad to engage in new approaches to prison work.

In particular, it is the seminars that have taken place, since the early 1990’s, for individuals who work within prisons, that have provided a tremendous forum from which to explore diverse ideas and experiences. Time and again, in the many seminars, the conversations have come back to the key, core themes of relationships, understanding roles, managing change - both personal and cultural, and self-respect. Within these themes there has consistently been a recognition of the part played by the higher values of courage, love, forgiveness, healing, care and integrity.

The wealth of experience, personal stories and examples, and insights that have been generated within this forum has provided a unique and rich source of material and ideas that have begun to be disseminated to others who work within prisons in other countries. The experience shared by the Commissioner of Prisons for Mauritius is an example of this. So too is the desire by individuals in the Polish Prison Service to introduce these ideas to their staff. Both are reported on in this section. Other countries in Europe and in Africa have also expressed an interest.

It is the values-based approach, reflecting our own spirituality, that enables us to develop the inner strength, peace and energy to deal with the challenges of modern life more easily and to make a more positive contribution to the world. It is this recognition, acceptance, appreciation and nurturing of the inner spirit, the soul, that makes each of us a human being. This is cot confined by borders, boundaries or frontiers!