As part of the Twinning Project, the LFC Foundation is offering a 10-week programme to 12 HMP Altcourse prisoners that will include weekly workshops both in the classroom and on the football pitch.
The course will be led by James McCall from the LFC Foundation, with support from PE officers at HMP Altcourse. It will focus on helping prisoners develop leadership skills, form positive relationships, understand the laws of the game, and build their technical football skills in outdoor training sessions.
The aim is for the participants to develop and demonstrate key qualities and skills for employment both within football and beyond once they are released. Throughout the programme, the sports leadership course will be supplemented by employability skills and interview practice. This was particularly challenging for participants in the first cohort, given most had never done a job interview before.
Upon completion of the course, the prisoners will earn an accredited Level 2 Sports Leaders certificate, officially recognising their participation. Participants have the opportunity to apply for a mentor role where they can use their new skills and experience to support future cohorts. This is a paid role offered by HMP Altcourse and gives participants the chance to work alongside the LFC Foundation.
Launched in October 2018, the Twinning Project is bringing together professional football clubs and prisons across the UK to use football as a catalyst for change to provide real opportunities to better prepare prisoners for release, find employment and reduce reoffending which is a huge cost to the country and local communities.
Matt Parish, director of the LFC Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be continuing this successful programme with HMP Altcourse.
"The Sports Leadership course provides the participants with many key skills such as management, communication and confidence, which helps to improve their employability prospects upon release and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.”
David Dein MBE, former vice chairman of Arsenal and the Football Association, and founder of the Twinning Project, commented: “It is a real testament to the success of their first delivery and dedication to tackling the reoffending rate that the LFC Foundation and HMP Altcourse have committed to delivering their second Twinning Project course.
"I want to commend all involved for their fantastic work offering new opportunities and real hope to the men at HMP Altcourse to help them turn away from reoffending.”
Steve Williams, G4S director at HMP Altcourse, added: “Fostering links between the community and the prison is a real focus for us at Altcourse, whether that be through work, education or physical activity.
"By partnering with Liverpool FC, as part of the Twinning Project, we are able to offer the men a real opportunity to learn and develop new skills as well as improve confidence in their own abilities.”
Jason Swettenham, head of prison industries, catering, retail and PE at HMPPS, said: “We are extremely grateful to Mr Dein, the Twinning Project and the LFC Foundation for engaging with the men at HMP Altcourse.
"To participants, the attendance of Mr Dein and Liverpool and Wales legend Ian Rush to kick off their course is like meeting football royalty and evidence of how much the Twinning Project is determined to use the power of football to help them turn their lives around.”