Wolves Foundation helps prisoners prepare for life after release

Wolves Foundation ambassador and former promotion-winning captain Karl Henry delivered a coaching session to round off another successful cohort of the Twinning Project at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone.

Sixteen prisoners had come through the 10-week programme delivered by Foundation staff, a mixture of theory and practical work which leads to a coaching qualification which they can then utilise upon release.

It is all part of the Twinning Project, a partnership between HM Prison and Probation Service and professional clubs with the objective of twinning every prison in England and Wales with a local professional football club.

Henry joined the final week of the programme to engage in a lively Q&A and discussion about his career and modern coaching, before leading a session himself and then joining in the game which rounded off the course.

“It was a real pleasure to visit HMP Oakwood and meet all the guys who had completed the course as part of the Twinning Project,” says Karl, who is on his own coaching journey currently having won promotion last season with Boldmere St Michaels Women’s team.

“I think anyone who knows me knows how much I love debating about football, and we had some great discussions about coaching methods and past and present players.

“It was then a real privilege to lead a coaching session and get involved in the game, hopefully putting into practice everything that they had learned from Foundation staff.

“Some of the guys were talking about how they want to use the qualification upon their release, and from all the discussions it sounds like it’s been a really positive experience.”

The Twinning Project was first launched back in 2018 by David Dein, former vice-chairman of Arsenal and the FA, and Wolves Foundation has been involved in delivering several cohorts at both Oakwood and HMP Brinsford in recent years.

It is now part of the Building Brighter Futures project, which aims to improve physical health and wellbeing and financial wellbeing and increase employability across Wolverhampton. 

Farhad Olaleye, Relationship Lead on the Twinning Project said: “The aim of the Twinning Project is to engage prisoners in football-based programmes to improve their mental and physical health, wellbeing and obtain a qualification to increase their life chances and gain employment on release.

 “It is a mix of theory learning and the practical, delivering sessions in front of their peers, and they can also follow up by completing safeguarding and first aid modules upon their release.

“The commitment of the staff at HMP Oakwood and from Wolves Foundation is always great to see, and is reflected in the mutual respect between those delivering on the course and the prisoners who fully engage and enjoy studying for the qualification.

“It was also great for them to meet Karl, not only a Wolves Foundation ambassador but a former Premier League captain, who was able to share his experiences both about life as a player and as a coach.”

Sarah-Louise Evans, Senior Employability Officer at the Foundation staff who helps lead on the project, said: “We have really enjoyed leading another cohort in partnership with the Twinning project, which has been a really worthwhile project for everyone involved.

“For Karl to give up his time to attend the final session provided the perfect end for this programme and provided some fascinating insight for the prisoners who had completed the course.”

Another cohort will now start in the New Year with the Foundation and HMP Oakwood linking up again to take prisoners through the qualification.