Work In Prisons

Young People and Prison

We work with those excluded or at risk of exclusion, underachievers, young offenders and many others in a range of challenging social settings.

In 2007 Hardknock Productions went to Feltham and worked with inmates to explore issues close to their heart and reflect on the world as they see it.

There are 11,133 prisoners under the age of 21 in England and Wales. (1)

There are 2,320 15 to 17 year olds in prison and 233 in Secure Training Centres. In addition to this there are 213 10-14 year olds locked up in Local Authority Secure Childrens' Homes. (2)

The number of 15 to 17 year olds in prison has doubled in the last 10 years.

There are 8,658 young people between 18 and 20 years old in prison. (3)

In the last ten years the number of sentenced young adults entering prison has increased 40% and the number of sentenced young women imprisoned has almost trebled.

Two thirds are sentenced to less than 12 months in custody. The average time spent in custody for young adult prisoners is just over 8 weeks. (5)

Feltham Young Offenders Institution is a male juvenile's prison and Young Offenders Institution, located near Feltham town in the London Borough of Hounslow, in southwest London, England. Feltham Prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. Participatory drama workshops were used as a tool to engage debate and promote positive personal development.