News

An exciting and unique training event will take place in the Caribbean in November 2007. As part of a developing partnership between the International Award Association (IAA) and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), adults working with young offenders will learn how to use the Award Programme within secure institutions. If the workshop is successful, it could form the basis of a model that could be used worldwide.

Projects around the world are beginning to demonstrate the impact of the Award on outcomes with young offenders. For example, in one initiative reoffending was reduced by 75%. The Association is keen to promote the Award Programme's effectiveness in secure institutions, and is developing partnerships to facilitate this.

The November workshop will involve representatives from Antigua & Barbuda, St Lucia and Dominica. Led by David Clarke, Americas regional director for the Award, and Nicholas Brooke, prison adviser for the Caribbean team of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the course is the first of its kind on an international basis. David Clarke comments, "I am most delighted to be jointly running the first workshop of its kind, with the support of Unicef.  This is just the embryonic stage of a promising relationship with the juvenile justice sector in the Caribbean."

Delegates will have the opportunity not only to find out more about the benefits of the Programme for young offenders, but also to learn how to overcome the challenges of running the Award in a secure environment. These challenges can be substantial, but are outweighed by the enormous potential benefits both to the institutions themselves and the young people in their care. Nicholas Brooke is in no doubt of the Programme's potential to offer them "a holistic development programme, equipping them with the necessary life skills and self confidence to help them return to their communities. Participation in the scheme in custody will provide a through-care link to the National Award schemes in each country."

The training workshop will take place in St Lucia from 26th - 28th November. For more information contact Adriana Mair, Americas regional assistant at adriana.mair@intaward.org.