The College’s work with Young Offenders was based on the premise that if the cycle of re-offending was to be broken the responsibility lay, in the first instance, with the offenders. There was a 100% take up rate by inmates when SOL was offered with the same level of participation after 6 months (except those transferred to other prisons) even after release. The value of SOL was recognised by prisoners and prison staff:
“I see SOL as a Question mark: It helps me understand who I am better and why I have done the things I have. It really helps me work out problems I’ve had for years, I don’t want to come back inside again”.
“…using SOL with my Coach has given me so much more confidence in talking with other people and I don’t feel so alone as, now be part of a team and speak out what I am thinking”.
“the integration of SOL really enhanced the guy’s interaction with each other. It speeded up the process of them being honest and challenging with each other and overall enhanced the end results of the course and SOL continues to help them help themselves”.
