Expectations vs reality

First, a quick bit of context. 50 Degrees does a lot of work on prison contracts. We’ve supported Sodexo to win two major prison contracts in the past 12 months (HMP Lowdham Grange and HMP Altcourse) and are currently supporting the mobilisation of both these prisons.

I’m excited to be part of the team working on our next prison bid (again working with long-term partners Sodexo) for the renewal of the ‘Operator’ contract for HMP Forest Bank… a prison Sodexo has run since it opened in 2000. And, while I have access to prison experts (both at Sodexo and part of the 50 Degrees team) who can provide me with endless first-hand insight, I was delighted to be invited to Forest Bank to be able to see for myself what prison-life is really like.

It was my first time visiting a prison, and in the run-up whilst I thought I didn’t know what to expect, I actually had a whole set of expectations. Influenced by films (Shawshank Redemption), TV shows (Prisonbreak), and just general popular culture, I was subconsciously expecting the prison to look and feel a certain way. Not at all surprisingly, the prison didn’t look or feel anything like they are so often depicted.

Instead, I was met with a functioning, cohesive society behind enclosed walls. Prisoners were not locked behind big metal bars, but were walking down the corridor (under supervision, of course) on the way to their next activity. For example, when we arrived, we were met by a group who were all heading to an outdoor football training session.

Ultimately, the regime is a robust one. From a prisoner’s induction into the prison, to their movements, their mealtimes, and so on, Prisoner Custody Officers (PCOs) implement an orderly and consistent structure to their days. The prisoner population, however, conducts itself in a way not unlike the general population. There are plenty of positive interactions, and there is an element of flexibility and flow in these.

We also visited the education and industry sections of the prison, where prisoners can gain qualifications and transferrable, functional skills. There were lessons ranging from managing personal finances, to basic maths and English. Here, we saw how the prison staff work every day to build up prisoners’ independence, all contributing to Forest Bank's ultimate rehabilitation goals.

The visit granted me a much better understanding of how prisons function day to day, and the way in which the Operator creates an environment which gets as close as possible to ‘normal’ life, to ensure prisoners have the best chance at reintegrating into society. Following the visit, I can input into my first prison bid with real life insight and understanding, rather than just a set of imagined expectations.

We’re constantly being fed depictions of people and places, and it might be comforting for us to believe we can watch films or TV shows without being influenced. But I now realise that we’re actually riddled with preconceptions. And by recognising this, we can start to confront and challenge ourselves, through ‘real life’ encounters and experiences.

Charlotte dos Remedios
Consultant