Apex Scotland’s ASCEND project, based in Inverness, is a 3 year pilot funded by ESF. This project enables Apex staff to work with prisoners prior to their liberation and thereafter into the community to improve their employment prospects.
Prisoners in HMP Inverness have successfully obtained a CSCS card following a Health & Safety and Environment test which helps raise standards across the construction industry. The test ensures that workers meet a minimum level of health, safety and environmental awareness before going on site and the resulting card which is awarded is a necessary requirement when applying to work in construction.
Mark Holloway, Offender Outcomes Manager at HMP Inverness, said “We had 15 of our prisoner group take the tests with 13 of them passing and as a result have gained a Europe wide recognised qualification. Can I firstly take this opportunity to thank your staff for their hard work in making sure that the participants were ready to take their tests. It was encouraging to see the confidence of each and every one of the prisoners growing after each of their practice sessions. Some of the participants had never gained a qualification in any subject before and the lift in their self-esteem cannot be underestimated. We at HMP Inverness value the relationship we have with Apex Scotland and I look forward to continue to work with yourselves to the betterment of those in our care. Thanks again and very well done to all.”
The above picture shows some of the prisoners who took part in the test along with Mark Holloway, HMP Inverness Offender Outcomes Manager, Katrina Beattie, Apex Personal Development Mentor, and staff from Pearsons.
