Latest news with #Monopoly-style
NDTV
22-04-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Inmates At This Prison Can Buy Pizza, Ice Cream Using Monopoly-Style Money
HMP Oakwood, the largest prison in England located in Featherstone, Staffordshire, has launched Britain's first in-prison supermarket. In collaboration with food retailer Iceland, the prison now features a supermarket where inmates can buy branded treats like Ben & Jerry's ice cream and popular Chicago Town pizzas, which are not available in the regular prison canteen, reported The Times. What sets this store apart is its currency system. Inmates use Monopoly-style money earned through good behaviour at the Category C prison. The incentive scheme allows them to earn up to 25 pounds (around Rs 2800) per week, reported the Daily Mail. What's more, prices at this prison branch are lower than those at Iceland's high-street outlets. The in-prison supermarket is part of a larger initiative to recreate a shopping centre environment inside a massive warehouse within the jail, dubbed the 'marketplace'. Alongside Iceland, it features a coffee shop named Hopeful Grounds run by inmate baristas, a fresh produce stall with fruits and veggies, and a leisure store called JP Sports. The marketplace is designed to help inmates transition more smoothly into society after release, with some also employed in the store as part of their rehabilitation. The program was the brainchild of HMP Oakwood's head of employability Carly Balis, who helps identify inmates suitable for a role at the in-prison Iceland branch. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, has praised the project as "unusually effective" and last year named HMP Oakwood the number one prison in England. He called it "the best prison I have seen in my time as Chief Inspector."
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major supermarket opens Britain's first 'in-prison' convenience store for inmates INSIDE UK's largest jail
A major supermarket chain has launched Britain's first 'in-prison' branch to help inmates adjust to the outside world upon their release. Food retailer Iceland last month opened a store at HMP Oakwood in Featherstone, Staffordshire - the largest prison in England. The branch gives prisoners the chance to use Monopoly-style money to stock up on groceries, including branded products like Chicago Town pizzas and Ben & Jerry's ice cream that are unavailable on the prison wings, The Times reported The supermarket is the first of its kind in the UK and is part of a new 'marketplace' constructed within a huge warehouse inside the jail, fashioned to look like a shopping centre. Alongside Iceland, the marketplace also features a coffee shop called Hopeful Grounds with inmate baristas, a fruit and veg stand and a leisure store called 'JP sports'. Inmates can earn currency to spend at the store up to a maximum of £25 per week as a reward for good behaviour at the Category C prison - though prices are cheaper than in Iceland's high street stores. The store also offers employment to some prisoners as they near the end of their sentences, to help ease their route back into the world of work following their release. HMP Oakwood, one of 15 privately run jails in England and Wales, is run by the private security firm G4S. Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, rated the scheme as 'unusually effective' - and last year named HMP Oakwood the number one prison in England. Mr Taylor commended the prison for its strong leadership, high expectations placed on inmates, and 'a culture of prisoner-led initiatives' and calling it 'the best prison I have seen in my time as Chief Inspector'. That represents a major turnaround for HMP Oakwood, which a decade ago was dubbed 'Jokewood' by prisoners. The penitentiary was harshly criticised by prisons inspectors in 2013 due to soaring levels of violence and the ease with which inmates were able to obtain drugs. Ellen Herickx, Iceland's employment lead manager, who previously worked at HMP Stocken in Rutland, told The Times: 'A lot of prisoners, when they come into prison, think, "Who's going to employ me? I'm in prison." '"That's it, that's the end of my life because nobody will take me on." So when they get that opportunity, that second chance, they grasp it with both hands,' she said. 'They're less likely to reoffend, they're less likely to mess up because they've got structure, routine, stability, so straight away they're on the right path. And they're grateful because they didn't expect another chance.' The marketplace was the brainchild of HMP Oakwood's head of employability Carly Balis, who helps identify inmates suitable for a role at the in-prison Iceland branch. She passes on their details to Paul Cowley, Iceland's director of rehabilitation, who heads up the supermarket giant's Second Chance scheme. According to The Times, Mr Cowley served a short prison sentence as a teenager for petty crime, before serving in the Armed Forces and then joining the priesthood. He carries out interviews with all potential inmates employees before allocating successful candidates a role either in-store or as a delivery driver. In total Iceland employs approximately 350 former inmates, while an additional 300 have job offers ahead of their release. Sean Oliver, HMP Oakwood's governor, said the scheme helped some inmates on lengthy sentences reacquaint themselves with using money and let them 'feel and see what normality is like'. Workers at the store regularly school prisoners on the basics of a supermarket shop, including things like where to place their baskets and how to go about paying.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Youngsters learn about violence against women
A scheme teaching children about violence against women is aimed at "empowering" the youngsters taking part, its organisers have said. Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme's One Goal scheme has seen children and teenagers learning more about the issue in a bid to raise awareness. South Yorkshire Police logged 34,349 crimes against women and girls in 2024, including sexual offences, domestic abuse and harassment, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by the BBC. Molly Bulmer, youth and integration coordinator, who runs the sessions, said: "We thought we'd nip it in the bud at this age and get them to recognise it, so hopefully we can prevent further issues." Ms Bulmer said such education was crucial because violence against women and girls usually began at a low level. "It starts with stereotypical comments that get brushed off and become tolerable and acceptable in society," she said. "That becomes more prevalent and it leads to abuse." The scale of violence against women has been described by the Police Chiefs Council as a "national emergency". Sessions for the One Goal programme have taken place at a youth club at Wincobank Village Hall in Sheffield. As part of the sessions, children and teenagers have been inspired to design a Monopoly-style boardgame, focused on healthy relationships. Eva, 11, one of those taking part, explained: "It's like normal Monopoly, but we have positive and negative spaces - and the negative is abuse. It's based on relationships with a partner." Eva said she felt it was right to discuss these issues at a young age. "I personally think it's better to learn it before rather than after, so that if we ever do get into a bad relationship, we know how to deal with it." Meanwhile, Oliver, 14, said it was important that girls and boys discussed these issues alongside each other. "If you do it together, you get two different mindsets, two different perspectives, and you could have different ideas about how to solve problems," he said. Jacob Walkland, from the Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme, said the sessions included discussions about healthy relationships, stereotypes and consent. "When we're speaking with young people, it can be quite sensitive," he said. "But they're very engaged and it's something they're really getting on board with." "Being able to be that mature and raising awareness on such an important topic is empowering to see," Mr Walkland added. The work done by the One Goal project has been praised by South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard. He said: "Working with partners, the government and the police, I will do everything I can to support victims and survivors of abuse and violence. "Community projects like One Goal, which is funded by our Violence Reduction Unit, play such an important part in educating, supporting and empowering our young people to stop violence and abuse before it starts." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme
BBC News
11-03-2025
- BBC News
Sheffield youngsters learn about violence against women
A scheme teaching children about violence against women is aimed at "empowering" the youngsters taking part, its organisers have Wednesday FC Community Programme's One Goal scheme has seen children and teenagers learning more about the issue in a bid to raise Yorkshire Police logged 34,349 crimes against women and girls in 2024, including sexual offences, domestic abuse and harassment, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by the Bulmer, youth and integration coordinator, who runs the sessions, said: "We thought we'd nip it in the bud at this age and get them to recognise it, so hopefully we can prevent further issues." Ms Bulmer said such education was crucial because violence against women and girls usually began at a low level."It starts with stereotypical comments that get brushed off and become tolerable and acceptable in society," she said."That becomes more prevalent and it leads to abuse."The scale of violence against women has been described by the Police Chiefs Council as a "national emergency". Sessions for the One Goal programme have taken place at a youth club at Wincobank Village Hall in part of the sessions, children and teenagers have been inspired to design a Monopoly-style boardgame, focused on healthy 11, one of those taking part, explained: "It's like normal Monopoly, but we have positive and negative spaces - and the negative is abuse. It's based on relationships with a partner."Eva said she felt it was right to discuss these issues at a young age."I personally think it's better to learn it before rather than after, so that if we ever do get into a bad relationship, we know how to deal with it."Meanwhile, Oliver, 14, said it was important that girls and boys discussed these issues alongside each other."If you do it together, you get two different mindsets, two different perspectives, and you could have different ideas about how to solve problems," he said. Jacob Walkland, from the Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme, said the sessions included discussions about healthy relationships, stereotypes and consent."When we're speaking with young people, it can be quite sensitive," he said."But they're very engaged and it's something they're really getting on board with.""Being able to be that mature and raising awareness on such an important topic is empowering to see," Mr Walkland work done by the One Goal project has been praised by South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver said: "Working with partners, the government and the police, I will do everything I can to support victims and survivors of abuse and violence."Community projects like One Goal, which is funded by our Violence Reduction Unit, play such an important part in educating, supporting and empowering our young people to stop violence and abuse before it starts." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
