Jersey prison scheme helps Age Concern charity

Prisoners at HMP La Moye are growing plants and crafting wooden furniture that are sold in an Age Concern charity shop, a scheme intended to raise funds for the charity and provide vocational experience and community engagement for inmates.

Prisoners at HMP La Moye are growing plants and making wooden furniture that are sold at an Age Concern charity shop in Trinity. The States of Jersey Prison Service and Age Concern said the scheme is intended to generate income for the charity and to support inmate rehabilitation through engagement with the community. More than 40 prisoners at a time take part in horticulture or woodwork training overseen by prison vocational staff. Officials said they hope to widen the initiative to include more local firms and charities. Known details: - Items on sale include vegetables, herbs, flowers, shrubs, wooden benches and planters produced by inmates as part of horticultural and workshop training. - HMP La Moye can hold up to 200 prisoners; vocational training involves more than 40 participants at a time. - Horticultural course participants are overseen by two vocational trainers and work roughly six hours per day, five days per week, with additional weekend care for plants. - Prison and charity staff say the project aims to support rehabilitation and to help prisoners seek employment or volunteering opportunities after release. - A report is expected shortly to identify ways to adapt prison training and education to better meet job-market needs. Summary: The initiative provides funds for Age Concern while giving inmates hands-on training and community contact. Officials say it may assist people leaving prison in finding work or volunteer roles. A report on adapting training to labour-market needs is due soon, and project leaders hope to expand collaboration with other local groups.