Bid to make prisoners volunteers

The conference takes place at Leyhill Open Prison

A conference at Leyhill Open Prison in South Gloucestershire heard the best way to stop former inmates re-offending is to turn them into volunteers.

Prison staff say when prisoners are given a chance to carry out voluntary work and take on extra responsibilities they are much less likely to re-offend.

Many of the prison's 500 inmates go out on work training and placements, with some working a normal five-day week.

Richard Booty, the prison governor said: "As an open prison we can place prisoners in the community as part of our remit to help them back into the community.

"We can hopefully make their resettlement a bit more straightforward.

"What we provide is hopefully, good-quality, well-motivated volunteers who offer a practical service to the community."

The conference took place at the prison on Thursday.