Since 2021, Complete Skills Solutions (CSS) has delivered training at Haverigg Prison, a men’s open prison in Cumbria, equipping 230 prisoners with skills in barista work, sustainability, welding, solar energy, HGV driving, and more.
When Governor Adam Connolley sought to make the prison greener, he turned to CSS to present them with a unique opportunity – design a project to power a prison greenhouse using solar energy and give prisoners the opportunity to undertake the project!
All prisoners take part in full-time employment and/or training at Haverigg, so this was an opportunity for some of them to further enhance their training by gaining some hands-on experience.
Having the opportunity to enrich their learning by including practical experiences was a no brainer for Lucy Chapman, Head of Sector at Complete Skills Solutions, and she soon pulled together a project plan where prisoners with a wealth of interests could get involved.
To kick start the project, welding learners worked with their tutor to design and weld bespoke racking to hold the number of required solar panels. They also designed and built a metal cupboard to house the batteries and electrics required for the panels.
The CSS prison delivery team then spent a week on site with a group of learners who were studying Introduction to Solar. During this time, they dug out the footings and poured the cement for the racking, as well as doing the groundwork to run the wiring from the panels to the greenhouse.
An electrician joined them on site for the last two days, showing the learners how to connect the panels together and join them to the battery storage to power the greenhouse heater. The result? A completely off grid power source!
Joanne Marsden, Learning & Skills Manager at Haverigg prison said:
“This project significantly enhanced the learning for our prisoners, giving them practical exposure to a purposeful project which they can reference and talk about after being released. Giving them the opportunity to apply their learning to something practical not only boosts their knowledge and understanding, but also skills such as communication and teamwork, all of which will help them to positively reintegrate back into society once released. “
Adam added:
“I was delighted that the Complete Skills Solutions team saw my vision and were happy to adapt their delivery style to accommodate this practical project. It was incredibly well received by the learners, and I am hopeful that we can offer similar opportunities for future cohorts.”
