Cherries Use Power of Football to Help Prisoners

AFC Bournemouth 's Community Sports Trust is using the power of football to help inmates at Guys Marsh Prison in Shaftesbury gain
new qualifications.

The Trust and the staff at Guys Marsh have designed a six week programme to give inmates at the category C facility the necessary skills to be able to do positive work in their local communities upon release.

The inmates will receive coaching from the club's qualified staff and will earn an FA Leaders award as part of the initiative, and could be nominated to study for their FA level one coaching badge.

Steve Cuss, head of the Community Sports Trust, is looking forward to returning to Guys Marsh after opening a partnership with the prison in late 2011.

Cuss said, "We are hoping it will give the participants the opportunity to engage in something really positive after they're released. It could open the door for them to become involved in some voluntary work, or look for some paid employment at a local sports centre.

"A lot of the guys there are on training and education programmes and looking to better themselves. The football work we've delivered there in the past has always been popular and I'm sure the coaching course will be just as
well received.

"The participants pick up a certificate at the end of the scheme and it can boost their chances of employment, but football has such a wide message. It teaches us about discipline, teamwork, leadership, communication and organisation which are all important life skills."

The coaching scheme has proved to be popular with prisoners, with one of the participants volunteering for the Community Sports Trust as part of its programme with local colleges.

"We have one young man who has gone through the scheme itself and is now doing some voluntary work with us. He's a qualified level one coach and can help us deliver the course, but it's also a great example of someone benefitting from the scheme and using what they've learned in a positive manner," Cuss added.

"If we can show that the course has been successful, then people can look at it and think 'that could happen for me' and sign up. We are looking forward to going back to Guys Marsh and making a real difference to these men's lives."

Simon Broderick from Guys Marsh Prison added, "The course gives the participants some really valuable skills, and we hope it will help them gain qualifications and find a job after they're released.

"We have developed a good working relationship with AFC Bournemouth, and the work they do with us is incredibly important and could change lives for some of those involved. I would like to thank the club for their help and we look forward to working with them again this year."