1. Greener on the Outside for Prisons: Overview, Impacts and Reflections
Prof. Mark Dooris
Dr. Alan Farrier
Dr. Michelle Baybutt
Healthy and Sustainable Settings Unit
University of Central Lancashire
Job title, brief history of Unit

2. Presentation Outline Background and Context
Programme Overview and Aims
Project Examples
Evaluation Findings: Quantitative and Qualitative
Reflections and Next Steps

3. Healthy & Sustainable Settings Unit
Acknowledges that “health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love” (WHO, 1986) and that many health challenges are interrelated and can be best tackled through comprehensive, integrated programmes in the contexts and places where people live their lives.
Bridges research, policy and practice, with a global reputation.
Has a range of programmes – including Health and Justice: hosted UK’s 1st Regional Healthy Prisons Co-ordinator and operational management of WHO Health in Prisons Programme ( ).

4. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Context – North West England
GOOP is a therapeutic and social horticultural and environmental prisons-based programme operating within and across establishments in the North West England.
North West Prisons
Approx 11,000 prisoners in the north west
11 Greener on the Outside for Prisons projects (GOOP)
16 Prisons in 5 ‘categories’
(-1 Category A, -2 privately-owned, -2 not engaged)

5. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Context – Nature, Health and Wellbeing
© Mark Dooris
© Mark Dooris
© Mark Dooris
Access to green space is unequal: mirrors deprivation/exclusion patterns
Access to nature and green/blue space associated with:
Reduced mental health problems
Enhanced mental wellbeing
Reduced violence and aggression
Increased levels of physical activity
‘Green exercise’ more beneficial than indoor activity
Views of nature beneficial for health [including in prison]
Contact with nature can promote pro-environmentalism
Sources: St Leger, 2003; Maller et al, 2006; FPH, 2010; van den Bosch, 2015

6. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Context – Social Exclusion
42% of prisoners had been expelled or permanently excluded from school
24% of men and 31% of women in prison had been in local authority care during childhood, compared to only 2% of the general population
15% of prisoners report being homeless prior to custody
33% of prisoners reported being in paid employment in four weeks before custody; 13% reported never having had a job
47% of prisoners report having no qualifications
21% of prisoners report needing help with reading, writing or numeracy; and 40% with work-related skills
North West Prisons
Approx 11,000 prisoners in the north west
11 Greener on the Outside for Prisons projects (GOOP)
16 Prisons in 5 ‘categories’
(-1 Category A, -2 privately-owned, -2 not engaged)
Prison Reform Trust, 2015,

7. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Context – Poor Health
90% of prisoners have mental health and/or substance abuse problems, complicated by factors relating to social exclusion
In 2015, there were 32,313 prison-based self-harm incidents – the highest rate ever and a risen by 40% in just two years
In 2015, the rate of self-inflicted deaths for prisoners was 120 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.8 per 100,000 people for the general population
It is estimated that 80% of prisoners smoke compared to around 20% of the general population
One third of the prisoner population is overweight or obese and prisoners tend to have a poor understanding of the benefits of physical activity and poor eating habits
North West Prisons
Approx 11,000 prisoners in the north west
11 Greener on the Outside for Prisons projects (GOOP)
16 Prisons in 5 ‘categories’
(-1 Category A, -2 privately-owned, -2 not engaged)
Prison Reform Trust,
Public Health England
Public Health England, 2014

8. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Context – Rehabilitation and Reoffending
46% of people released from prison go on to re-offend within one year
97% of offenders express a desire to stop offending
Prisoners who gain employment after release are far less likely to re-offend – and Ofsted inspectors have argued that prisons do not give sufficient priority to education and training as a means of reducing reoffending or rehabilitating offenders
North West Prisons
Approx 11,000 prisoners in the north west
11 Greener on the Outside for Prisons projects (GOOP)
16 Prisons in 5 ‘categories’
(-1 Category A, -2 privately-owned, -2 not engaged)
Prison Reform Trust, 2015,

9. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Background & Aims
GOOP is a therapeutic and social horticultural and environmental prisons-based programme operating within and across establishments in the North West England
Established in 2008, as one of 12 programmes funded by the National Lottery as part of Target: Wellbeing, a regional public health portfolio that ran from 2007 to 2015
With an overarching focus on tackling health inequalities, Target: Wellbeing had three key outcome areas – mental wellbeing, physical activity and healthier eating
GOOP was set up to address these outcome areas but also with the aim of contributing to the development of a rehabilitative culture in prisons (e.g. skills development, citizenship, social inclusion, employability, resettlement, reducing re-offending)
Landscaping in local community on ROTL

10. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Overview
Creating gardens and enhancing gardens/green spaces within prison grounds
Running horticulture projects using these gardens and spaces to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers; and to keep bees and chickens
Improving local environments through community-based environmental and landscaping projects [using ROTL and working with partners such as Forestry Commission, TCV, Groundwork UK]
Undertaking accredited training, building skills/ competencies and gaining NVQ and other qualifications [working with NOVUS]
Building the GOOP Network to provide peer support and share information and best practice
Landscaping in local community on ROTL

11. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Examples
Landscaping in local community on ROTL

12. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Examples

13. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Examples

14. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Examples
Landscaping in local community on ROTL
GOOP Newsletters <to insert>

15. Greener on the Outside for Prisons [GOOP]: Evaluative Research
Between 2008 and 2015, GOOP worked with more than 4392 prisoners [‘beneficiaries’] and a number of evaluative research studies were undertaken:
Aim
To explore how participation in GOOP has impacted on prisoners and increase understanding of their experience and its effects on health, wellbeing and life opportunities – with a particular focus mental wellbeing, physical activity and healthier eating
Methods
‘Green Gym’ Evaluation forms
Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
Focus Groups with prisoners
Semi-Structured Interviews with staff
Narrative-Focused Interviews with prisoners
Green Gym – The Conservation Volunteers

16. Findings: Overview
GOOP projects have demonstrated a positive impact on the wellbeing of prisoners, especially in relation to mental health
Prisons have reported that GOOP has had an impact both on the behaviour of prisoners and the prison environment
The successful networking of GOOP projects has shared knowledge and best practice between prisons
The adoption of GOOP by all state-run prisons in the North West region is a huge vote of confidence in the benefits of the project
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet
Farrier, A. & Kedwards, J. (2015) Impact Report: GOOP, University of Central Lancashire. Groundwork UK.
Baybutt, M., Dooris, M. & Farrier, A. (2012) Target Wellbeing: Pan-Regional Prisons Programme – Final Report. Preston: UCLan

17. Findings: Mental Wellbeing
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet
Farrier, A. & Kedwards, J. (2015) Impact Report: GOOP, University of Central Lancashire. Groundwork UK.

18. Findings: Mental Wellbeing
“I love working [on GOOP] because I have learned to associate with people more”.
(Female, HMP Styal)
When they start shooting up and growing…it’s that little bit of, I don’t know, honour is it, something like that.”
(Prisoner, HMP Buckley Hall)
“We’ve all been here a long time, so it’s like, it doesn’t matter where you go you’re still in prison in your head. Coming outside, it is a totally different environment...it’s a wide open space, the smells, sounds, you know, it helps you relax and just forget.”
(Prisoner, HMP Kirkham)
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet

19. Findings: Physical Activity
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet
Farrier, A. & Kedwards, J. (2015) Impact Report: GOOP, University of Central Lancashire. Groundwork UK.

20. Findings: Physical Activity
“I have to say, that’s the benefit of working on the farms and gardens and yes, I’ve lost a lot of weight and I feel fitter.”
(Male, HMP Thorn Cross)
“There are... benefits to our health from being in the fresh air performing tasks that work our body…It also boosts our emotional and mental wellbeing”.
(Female, HMP Styal)
“I have suffered with mental health problems…but working in GOOP has helped me feel more confident, social and healthier, as I do not like doing conventional exercise in a gym. But working in the green gym is exercise, but I do not get bored as I am doing an activity that keeps me busy”.
(Male, HMP Risley)
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet

21. Findings: Healthier Eating
People reporting increased access to healthy food choices
People having developed new skills regarding growing or cooking nutritional food
People displaying an increase in knowledge around nutrition and healthy eating
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet
Farrier, A. & Kedwards, J. (2015) Impact Report: GOOP, University of Central Lancashire. Groundwork UK.

22. Findings: Healthier Eating
“I write to my Nana and tell her what I’m doing because we lost my granddad a few years ago and he was the one who did all the growing...She wrote back to me saying it’s lovely that you’re growing things. And the growing the tomatoes, it reminds me of when I used to do it with my granddad.”
(Prisoner, HMP Buckley Hall)
“It’s certainly raised awareness, some women have never seen some of these vegetables before...A lot are using them for meals and the young offenders took food back to the house to experiment with.”
(Gardens Manager, HMP Styal)
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet

23. Findings: Employability
“I’ve learnt such a lot about growing stuff..., I’m confident in growing tomatoes, chillies, peppers, aubergines, all stuff that I can take away with me and do when I get out, whether for my own use at home or whether to sell the stuff”.
(Male, HMP Thorn Cross)
“I’ve learnt a hell of a lot. And I think no matter where you go, you can do it. And it sort of gives you a confidence to know that yes, I can achieve anything really.”
(Prisoner, HMP Styal)
“It prepares you for working...that’s all good because we’re not used to [working].”
(Prisoner, HMP Kirkham)
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet

24. Findings: Staff Perspectives
“It’s been crucial that we’ve operated with two outcome areas. There’s been ‘health’ and there’s the area that prisons are most interested in: Is this going to reduce reoffending? Will it increase employability? Does it fit the resettlement agenda? All of those things are part of wellbeing when it’s viewed in that holistic way.”
(TWB Programme Manager)
“They’ve wanted to work seven days a week and some of them wanted to work into the evening, which is a massive thing.”
(Senior Manager, HMP Kennet)
“Prison officers are taking prisoners back to the wing more settled, more likely to…have their tea and go to sleep, be more restful…[and] that impacts positively on what they’ve got to deal with.”
(TWB Programme Co-ordinator)
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet

25. Findings: Staff Perspectives
“The garden is impressive and obviously immensely therapeutic for service users, a credit to the individuals on The Beacon. Ultimately the GOOP project is to assist in developing skills and employability for prisoners on release. The sense of responsibility and ownership was great. [John] stands out for me. He was very passionate and enthusiastic and he reflected on how the garden has helped him manage his emotions.”
(Feedback from Beacon PDU Open Day – HMP Garth)
10 prisons and an approved premises.
4 sites: Styal, Thorn Cross, Risley and Kennet

26. “You put the seed in the ground, it germinates
“You put the seed in the ground, it germinates... you’re caring for something. Something that isn’t judgemental, will not answer back, that will flourish with a bit of TLC. And most people can give a bit of TLC, some people find it difficult to sustain that TLC, but a plant isn’t conditional. So when they see it growing and harvest it at the end of it and taste it, they’ve done the full process. And it’s a journey through life and it’s like theirs, you know, you might have a twist in the stem and you can talk about people probably having a mental health issue and that will be a kink in the stem. We’ve got one girl here...and she grew a sunflower. It was the largest sunflower in the whole of the polytunnel, really strong thick stem... you couldn’t help but notice it. And when you start talking to the women about how often the flower reacts to how you care for it and grow it, you start realising that, what if I look after my family that way, maybe I can make a difference, maybe I can make a change.”
(Horticultural Instructor, HMP & YOI Styal
Reflections
Rather than conclude by trying to say something impressive about how we’ve achieved the programme’s aim and objectives, I want to leave you with this quote from the Horticultural Instructor at Styal – one of many observations from across the various projects that illustrate the richness of transformation that we’ve seen over the past four years...
“You put the seed in the ground, it germinates... you’re caring for something. Something that isn’t judgemental, something that will not answer back, something that will flourish with a bit of TLC. And most people can give a bit of TLC, some people find it difficult to sustain that TLC, but a plant isn’t conditional. So when they see it growing and harvest it at the end of it and taste it, they’ve done the full process.
And it’s a journey through life and it’s like theirs, you know, you might have a twist in the stem and you can talk about people probably having a mental health issue and that will be a kink in the stem. We’ve got one girl here...and she grew a sunflower. It was the largest sunflower in the whole of the polytunnel, really strong thick stem...you couldn’t help but notice it. And when you start talking to the women about how often the flower reacts to how you care for it and grow it, you start realising that, what if I look after my family that way, maybe I can make a difference, maybe I can make a change.”

27. Next Steps
Use evaluative research findings – reports and peer-reviewed publications – to disseminate learning
Embed GOOP and ensure its sustainability utilising Rehabilitative Culture and Establishment Delivery Plan mechanisms
Rollout GOOP to prisons in other UK regions – linked to Suicide and Self- Harm (SASH) focus
Integrate #itsokaytotalk in male prisons
Potentially roll out ‘Greener Outside’ in Approved Premises and other community settings
Photo Credit, David Niblack, imagebase.nett

28. Greener on the Outside for Prisons: Overview, Impacts and Reflections
Prof. Mark Dooris
Dr. Alan Farrier
Dr. Michelle Baybutt
Healthy and Sustainable Settings Unit
University of Central Lancashire
Job title, brief history of Unit