The Religious Education Department welcomed 3 visitors from HMP Northumberland to support our Year 11 classes who are currently studying the theme of crime and punishment as part of their GCSE course. Christine is the prison’s Christian chaplain. Pat and Joanne run the restorative justice programme, The Sycamore Tree, as volunteers for the charity, Prison Fellowship. Students gained valuable insights into the experiences of prisoners and the prison system. Using real life case studies, our guests were able to engage students in purposeful reflection on themes such as justice, retribution, deterrence, forgiveness and reformation. Interesting debate and discussion ensued about the purpose of prisons, the aims of punishment and the challenges for society in dealing with those who break the law. Here are some of the students’ reflections:
‘For me, the experience was very eye-opening as I learned many things about our prisons and what prisoners experience in them. For example, I was shocked to learn that most prisoners in HMP Northumberland are usually locked up for 23 hours per day. It was moving to hear about one man who had had an incredibly traumatic childhood being helped to turn away from a life of crime, come off heroin and start working to help other prisoners rehabilitate. The session inspired me to think of prisoners in a different light, and, as someone aiming for a career in law, it was very useful in providing me with a better understanding of our legal system’.
‘Our visitors told us stories that were deeply shocking and sad. Many of the prisoners they work with have never had the experience of a loving and nurturing home environment. The prisoners themselves are shocked that volunteers from Prison Fellowship willingly give up their time to come into the prison to work with them and spend time with them without receiving any payment’.
Our visitors share their reflections on the sessions in the short video below. We look forward to welcoming them back to Gosforth Academy on Curriculum Enrichment Day in March. For further information about Prison Fellowship, including The Sycamore Tree project, please see: www.prisonfellowship.org.uk.
Please view the video and photos from the visit below.