Prison has UK record for number of working inmates

A prison has set a UK record with the number of its inmates working while behind bars, it has been revealed.

HMP Oakwood, near Wolverhampton, has all but seven of its 2,000 prisoners working at the Staffordshire facility, with its director saying the scheme helps the men maintain skills and a sense of responsibility.

"It's a sense of structure, it's a sense of purpose [and] getting away from prison life," one inmate said.

Jobs range from inmates helping to run an in-house supermarket in partnership with Iceland, where prisoners can shop and gain retail experience, to metalwork and gardening and assembling windows.

Prison director Sean Oliver said the aim was also to improve the men's chances of finding work after release.

He said creating a working environment inside prison helped "normalise" daily life and better prepare people for returning to society.

"It's putting prisoners in a better place when they are released," Oliver said.

"It's giving them that rehabilitation, teaching them how to interact because that is really important to just be able to be in a normal environment without causing problems."

New partnerships with external companies have also created more opportunities for prisoners to learn practical skills.

Along with the supermarket, the prison's Cherry Blossom marketplace provides inmates with vocational training, including stock management, health and safety, and budgeting. They can spend up to £15 and handle real products.

Industries manager John Porter said the range of roles had grown significantly, allowing more inmates to take part in structured work.

"Iceland got fully on board with us, and they actually donated some of the freezers to help set up," Porter said.

He said the programmes were designed to mirror real world employment as closely as possible.

"The central normality that it brings to the lads is fulfilling and I'm really proud of what we've achieved here. I love it, it's my baby," Porter added.

One inmate said the supermarket gave him a "sense of purpose"

"We're trained or people on short sentences are trained up and end up getting jobs once they get out," he said.

Oliver said the schemes were focused on rehabilitation, giving offenders routine, responsibility and skills, with the hope that they won't re-offend after being released.

"Every man in general has got to be released, so would you rather someone who has learned to engage with people and had the opportunity to change," the director said.

"They will go on to be someone's neighbour so hopefully we try to educate them to rehabilitate and engage in positive activity."

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.