‘Brilliant’ take-up at prison barbers
PRISONERS have the chance to learn new barbering skills after a new salon facility was opened yesterday.
The space at Les Nicolles includes four work stations, with two sinks.
Education manager Rachel Kaufman said the facility had been a big success, with 10 students currently on the Level 2 City & Guilds barbering course.
The idea was first raised in 2021, when prison governor John de Carteret gave the idea his backing.
‘It was already a consideration, as a six-week barbering course taster session was being run in conjunction with the Guernsey College of Further Education,’ Ms Kaufman said.
She said it was a surprise to see how big the demand for the course was.
‘I could not have predicted it,’ she said.
‘It’s been brilliant.’
Charity Creative Learning in Prison – known as Clip – supports occupational learning in Les Nicolles and there are already a number of practical courses such as plumbing and painting and decorating. And now Clip has supported getting the new salon in place.
Ms Kaufman said it had taken a bit of time to get everything together because prison lockdowns had slowed the work, but it was all finished a few weeks ago.
While they were waiting for that, the students have been doing their theory work and have practised cutting mannequins’ and each others’ hair.
The course is not just about cutting hair, but also learning administrative skills such as operating a booking system.
There are some special precautions with the course taking place in the prison. The products are packed away at the end of classes and the equipment is kept on a shadow board so it is quick and easy to see if any goes missing. Ms Kaufman said they were grateful to the prison security team for supporting the salon.
Guernsey Prison has a lot of focus on rehabilitating the people inside and
giving them skills for when they are released.
Ms Kaufman said barbering was quite attractive for that.
‘They can set themselves up when they get out,’ she said.
‘We want the learners to go out with a qualification. It’s not just so they can get a job, but for them to feel they have achieved something.
‘If that happens for one or two of them, then we will have succeeded.’
It can be hard to predict how long it will take to complete a course such as this in prison but it is hoped prisoners will manage it within 18 months.
Ms Kaufman said they were hoping to do more in future, such as partnering with local salons.
