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On Tuesday 27th May the Northern Ireland Prison Service hosted a certificate presentation at Hydebank, marking the first accredited OCN Personal Wellbeing certificates delivered by AMH MensSana under the Together For You Project. Together For You, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is a mental health and wellbeing project, delivering services to a range of people across Northern Ireland, including prisoners.
On the day, 12 male and 12 female offenders received nearly 50 certificates on OCN courses such as Understanding Stress, Understanding Feelings and Emotions, Understanding Risk and Understanding Motivation.
Pauline Flanagan, AMH Service Manager Projects said
“I am delighted to be here today to see the first Personal Wellbeing programmes presented under the Together For You Project.”
“This is a remarkable achievement given that the AMH MensSana Project Worker only commenced delivery on the 28th January 2014, and to date has delivered 7 OCN accredited programmes in Hydebank resulting, in 49 certificates being presented here today.”
Recent research (published Jan 2014) carried out by the Ministry of Justice in England and Wales, reported that education makes prisoners less likely to reoffend (BBC News Jan 2014: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25668081). With this in mind Pauline thanked the prisoners for their enthusiasm and went on to say
“working through these wellbeing programmes will not only enable each and every one of you to personally grow, help maintain and improve mental wellbeing but will enable you to engage in the other extensive opportunities offered now in Hydebank because of improved confidence and motivation.”
Pauline encouraged them to keep up the good work and thanked the NI Prison Service, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Audrey Garvin and the Mental Health Team in Hydebank for introducing and promoting the Personal Wellbeing Programmes.
AMH MensSana team look forward to continuing to be part of the new and exciting training initiatives planned for Hydebank, and in consolidating and expanding the good work that has now begun.
