Inmates at HMP Wandsworth and Downview study media production while serving out their sentence

The women who are serving out sentences at Downview Prison can produce their own TV programmes which are broadcast on the in-cell TV system, whilst in HMP Wandsworth inmates operate their own radio station, Radio Wanno. Both initiatives are down to Media for Development, one of many not-for-profit organisations working in the UK’s prison system today.

The women who are serving out sentences at Downview Prison can produce their own TV programmes which are broadcast on the in-cell TV system, whilst in HMP Wandsworth inmates operate their own radio station, Radio Wanno. Both initiatives are down to Media for Development, one of many not-for-profit organisations working in the UK’s prison system today.

Media for Development have operated in Wandsworth for the last four years and Downview for two, running ongoing programmes in all aspects of media production for small groups of learning offenders. Mahua Nandi, Operations Director with Media for Development explains: “We work with learners to help them produce their own stories to broadcast. As well as media production, they also learn a wider range of skills such as leadership and teamwork.”

Participants don’t need any formal qualifications to take part on the programme but they have to demonstrate a willingness to learn and a commitment to see the project through.

“Typically, participants hit a wall three or four weeks in when they realise its much more than just recording a music programme,” says Mahua. “They have to plan ahead and prepare content and it’s then they realise the hard work involved. Those on the course find it a challenge and they enjoy that. At the end they have a concrete product to show for it at the end, something for their peers to see or hear and comment on.”

She adds that the course is not just about giving them training in media production and that they are not expecting all the participants to go out and get a job in television or media at the end of it. “Taking part in the experience gives the participants confidence and self-worth which they might not have experienced through formal education.”

That said, some graduates from the training programme at Downview have the opportunity to move on to a work placement with Inside Job, Media for Development’s production company, once they get on to the resettlement wing. The women are allowed out on day release to work as production assistants at the Inside Job offices. There they get to experience a normal busy media workplace. “Inside Job is a commercial production company, producing media for a wide variety of clients. Typical work is producing corporate DVDs.”

Media for Development are now looking to expand into other prisons. They recently ran a training programme in the juvenile estate with a course for learners to develop short films and animations. “That was a real eye opener for the participants,” says Mahua. “These young people undergo 30 hours of education a week, 50 weeks per year so something like this – practical and hands-on – is refreshing for them. It’s just as good a way to impart skills as more formal learning. Many participants haven’t had good experience with formal education in the past but in this programme they are gaining a high level of communication skills through talking and presenting.”

Media for Development are also putting together a plan to expand into more prisons around London and the South East. Mahua says: “If we get feeder prisons involved then there would be more continuity in training for participants for the duration of their sentence. People would then have access to the course throughout the system.”