‘Just passing time’: A review of work and training provision in adult prisons

The lack of adequate purposeful activity has been a failing in prisons for many years, and since the pandemic outcomes have deteriorated further: in the last three years HMI Prisons has rated provision in 94 of 104 closed prisons as ‘poor’ or ‘not sufficiently good’.

This thematic review, which took place alongside inspections of 11 men’s and two women’s prisons, reveals that, despite pockets of effective provision delivered by dedicated, creative staff, too many prisoners spend their days locked in their cells, and overcrowding, a lack of workshop space and instructors, equipment failures and ageing infrastructure have compounded the situation.

It is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that the prison service’s own measures indicate that at least two-thirds of prisoners are not in work or training six months after release. Looming cuts to education delivery in prisons are likely to make matters even worse. The Inspectorate has been told that most jails are facing at least a 20% reduction in their budget and some governors are expecting up to 50%, meaning many teachers and instructors are being made redundant.