I had a really interesting visit to HMP Featherstone, alongside the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Coillingswood and my Chaplain Becky Reeve, at the invitation of the Acting Governor and the Prison Employment Lead.
HMP Featherstone is a Cat C Male Prison with just under 700 Prisoners and approximately 65% of them are from the West Midlands.
During our visit, we were shown the wide variety of industry units including engineering and print services, which exist to provide skills training for the prisoners to enhance their chances of obtaining employment on release. The Education unit also provides English and Maths tuition and practical advice as to how to apply for vacancies.
We were particularly encouraged by the work being undertaken on the Drug Rehabilitation Wing to help prisoners address addiction issues which can often lie at the heart of criminal activity.
