Clip offers a laptop at library to help ex-prisoners to get on
A laptop is aiming to open doors for released prisoners when they leave Les Nicolles and are at their most vulnerable.
Clip – Creative Learning in Prison – is a charity that supports people as they re-integrate into society after serving their sentence.
Working with the prison and the Guille-Alles Library, the charity has organised for a Clip laptop to be based in the library to offer previous offenders the opportunity for both education and employment.
‘For a lot of individuals when they come out of prison, they probably don’t have the facilities we take for granted,’ said Clip founder Andrew Ozanne.
The library provides a venue where people coming out of prison can use the facilities and have access to the library’s books.
While prisoners have access to education and training in prison, these can abruptly stop when they leave and they no longer have access to those facilities.
‘What we’re hoping is this laptop provides somebody with the facility and opportunity to finish off a particular piece of work,’ said prison governor John De Carteret.
Previous offenders can come into the library when it is open and use it for education, employment, finding confidence and re-entering ‘normality’.
‘The whole objective is to reduce reoffending,’ said Mr Ozanne.
The library was pleased to support Clip’s initiative by providing a safe and welcoming space in the library for people to use the laptop.
‘They can sit here in a safe space, in a quiet space and further their studies,’ said Guille-Alles’ head of learning and development Catherine Stuart.
For previous offenders, coming out from prison means becoming part of a vulnerable group trying to integrate into society and it can be tough for many.
‘The biggest problem many prisoners face leaving prison is accommodation,’ said Mr De Carteret.
The Clip laptop in the library will help give those leaving prison a place with normality allowing them to advance in job opportunities and continue education.
Education is a key to social mobility, and facilitating continuity and education to grow confidence lessens the chances of reoffending.
‘Libraries are community hubs, and this collaboration aligns with our mission to support education, rehabilitation and personal growth,’ said Ms Stuart.
Clip will provide more laptops if needed and is willing to purchase a laptop for a prisoner, if doing so would make a fundamental difference in advancement to that person’s education or employment.
Adjustments need to be added to the laptop so it can supply whatever is needed for various courses, but it is expected to be available for use soon.
