Novus - Foundations for Change

At the start of October, the Novus Functional Skills Team at HMP Thameside attended the Tes SEND Show 2024. The team had the fantastic opportunity to meet with innovative companies that are developing amazing technology and resources to support our learners with neurodiverse needs. Additionally, the team heard from teachers, SENCos, head teachers, and parents about their experiences navigating SEND in mainstream education. Despite the focus being primarily on schools, there was still so much valuable information to gain and everyone that the team spoke to were eager to see how they could provide support in a prison environment! The team from HMP Thameside came away from the event with valuable information and resources and hope to bring some of this innovation to their classrooms and wings! The majority of learners who enter prison have neurodiverse needs. In order to engage learners in education in a way that supports their individual needs, it’s crucial that we stay up to date with the changes and updates within the SEND landscape. Events like these give our colleagues the opportunity to keep up to date with crucial information and resources, which can then be incorporated into their curriculum offer, further engaging more learners in education. To learn more about how we support learners with neurodiverse needs in prison education, read the article below: https://lnkd.in/eWbCt3TD

We are pleased to announce that Novus have been shortlisted for the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Employability Awards 2024! We have been shortlisted in the ‘Tailored Employment Support’ category for the fantastic work that our Novus Works Team do in supporting learners into employment, education and training. Amina Bodhania, Head of Partnerships and Business Improvement at Novus has commented positively on the submission: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the ERSA Employability Awards in the category of Tailored Employment Support. This recognition is a testament to our dedicated team, who work closely with HMPPS colleagues, employers and partners to help individuals find meaningful employment and transform their lives.” The winners will be announced following ERSA’s annual conference in London on 4th December 2024! Good luck to all teams involved! To read more about the fantastic work, the Novus Works team do in supporting learners into employment, education and training, read the article below: https://lnkd.in/eFAeStPg

We are delighted to announce that HMP Hatfield have received a ‘Good’ overall rating from Ofsted, with behaviour and attitudes recognised as ‘Outstanding’. The report included many positive comments including: “Leaders and managers had a clear strategy for the education, skills and work (ESW) curriculum to support prisoners into sustainable employment on release” “Leaders and managers had formed very effective relationships with employers. They worked collaboratively with employers to recruit prisoners into the workforce.” It is fantastic to be recognised for both of these points, as one of our main aims is to help learners into employment upon release. By working with employer partners, it enables us to create employer-led training programmes and develop viable routes into employment. Congratulations to everyone at HMP Hatfield, it’s a fantastic collaborative effort from Novus, HMPPS colleagues and other supporting organisations and it is making a real difference to our learners. For more details and a link to the full report, visit our website on the link below: https://lnkd.in/eta5H9Xv

Earlier this year, Novus learners in the English department at HMP Humber took part in The Spinning Tales Project which was organised by the National Justice Museum (NJM). The work produced was then included in the NJM publication earlier on in the year. The learners enjoyed the project so much, that the English department decided to re-run the project internally as a collaboration with the art department which was a huge success! Projects like this enable more learners to engage in enrichment opportunities. A project that was initially aimed at learners in the English department was able to be modified so that the art department could get involved further engaging more learners in enrichment opportunities. To learn more read the article below:

According to Government statistics, adults released from prison sometimes go on to reoffend, but participation in education is shown to reduce this. So, to help reduce reoffending rates, we encourage as many learners as possible into our education provision, and one of the ways we do this is through vocational training. Providing learners with industry-relevant training and work experience for their chosen career path, means they can find employment or further training upon release and successfully reintegrate back into society. To learn more, read the article below: https://lnkd.in/gHz2Udss

In support of World Mental Health Day, learners in the art class at HMP Altcourse worked together to produce a painting. This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day was, ‘Is it time to prioritise mental health in the workplace?’ and the painting intends to highlight the importance of protecting mental health whilst celebrating neurodiversity within the prison community. Through this project, learners were able to develop skills such as teamwork and communication, which are just as important as the core maths, English and vocational provision that we offer. According to research conducted by the Centre for Mental Health, nine out of ten prisoners have at least one mental health or substance misuse problem. Which is why at Novus, it’s important that we include activities like the one above into our curriculum offer, to give learners the positive outlet needed to share their experiences and facilitate important conversations around mental health and the support on offer. 

This project is a fantastic example of how collaboration can make a real difference to the outcomes of prison learners. Our tutors have supported learners through the course in an industry standard training kitchen, giving them the skills that they need to find a career in hospitality on release. Sustainable employment is key to ensuring that prison leavers don't fall into a cycle of reoffending and we are delighted that by working with colleagues at HMP Liverpool, New Futures Network and Marston's PLC in a collaborative way, we are giving our learners the very best chance to thrive on release.

Come and join us at our We Roar showcase event in Manchester where we will share the power of creative enrichment as a rehabilitation tool and hear from a former learner about the difference it has made to his life. We Roar is a transatlantic prison project devised by artist Faye Claridge, in partnership with Novus and the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) at the University of Michigan (USA). The project supported learners in 20 prisons across England and America to create artwork and poetry. The artwork produced by learners was then collated into an exhibition and toured across UK prisons that were involved in the project, visiting multiple prison sites that Novus operates in. Our final stop on the tour is City Campus Manchester and we'd love you to join us, to see the outstanding artwork and hear about the difference that it has made to prison learners. Details of the event are: 📅 Monday 4th November 2024 🕓 4pm to 6pm 🏫 City Campus Manchester, 60 Great Ducie Street, Manchester, M3 1PT We have limited space at the venue, so the event is ticketed, if you would like to join us, please register on this link: https://lnkd.in/egK9kmfV We look forward to seeing you there.

On Monday, as we reached the end of the first year of our second NOVUS CAMBRIA contract at HMP Berwyn, we celebrated the hard work of learners in an awards ceremony and then held a celebratory lunch for colleagues. Following the celebrations, we finished with a discussion with colleagues from HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Wales, The Right Course, and STREET SOCCER ACADEMY, with whom we have worked collaboratively to make the contract the success that it has been. We discussed the importance of close partnership working and collaboration and considered the next steps and developments to build on the current successes. It was great to step back and see all that we have achieved since we launched Novus Cambria back in 2017, a collaboration between Coleg Cambria and Novus. Since 2017 we have: 👩🎓 Supported over 5,000 learners 👨💻 Overseen over 7,000 inductions 👨🏫 Delivered over 10,000 courses Our learner retention rate is over 99% and attainment and success levels are 93%. Thank you to everyone who works at HMP Berwyn, for helping to make these successes happen, you are making a huge difference to our learners, helping to support their rehabilitation.

At the end of September, as part of their reading provision, HMP Five Wells had a visit from author Emma Stonex. Emma, carried out a book signing event within the library at the prison, handing out signed copies of her debut novel ‘The Lamplighters’. The event was a huge success and well attended by Novus learners, with many of them showing a keen interest in the life of a published author. Learners were also able to discuss their own works of fiction with Emma, who gave helpful advice on how to pursue a career as a writer. Emma really enjoyed her time at HMP Five Wells and even offered to return and send the library an early copy of her next release! Events like these are a really important way of improving the cultural capital of our learners, supporting their rehabilitation and giving them different ideas and paths for their life after prison.