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We can be contacted at:-

British Prisons,
PO Box 783, 
Croydon, 
CR9 1BT.

Our telephone number is 

0776 1246942

Film company want people!

GOING STRAIGHT - BBC DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Last year we made a documentary inside Feltham YOI and were struck by the talent and the potential many of the young men possessed, and also by their determination never re-offend partly because of the impact on their families and also because they simply wanted more from life.  However, one year on many of the people we met have gone back to prison....

GOING STRAIGHT is a six part observational documentary series for BBC TWO.  The aim of our programme is multilayered; firstly, we want to highlight the challenges facing people leaving prison who want to go straight, and how outside of the immediate family there are often few support mechanisms and strategies in place to keep people away from re-offending. Coupled with the stigma of being an “ex-crim” it is little wonder why young men in particular fall in to the cycle of re-offending.  

The second aspect to our programme is to show how rehabilitation need not just be the job of the professionals: social workers, parole officers the probation service and such.  Ordinary members of the community have a role to play in being concerned about what happens to people when they leave prison and through their own skills, perspective and life experience can help to guide an ex-offender on a more positive life course; hence the mentoring aspect of our programme.  We will take 6 members of the public who have never “mentored” before but who are willing to try and make a difference by be-friending and guiding an ex-offender (aged 18+) who has just left prison. Together they will design and implement a programme to steer the man or woman along a more positive life course, and provide practical as well as emotional support at this crucial period in their lives.

Mentor and Mentee will first get to know each other at an initial meeting (probably in jail) where they will establish common goals. The main focus of our series will be the following months (late July to September), GOING STRAIGHT will follow the process and developing relationship between mentor and mentee as they work towards realising goals established. The series will document the highs and the lows from both the mentor and the mentee’s perspectives and examine the complex issues involved in readjusting to life on the outside, as well as challenge some of the misconceptions still widely held in society about the  nature of rehabilitation.

I hope you will be able to pass this information to individuals who use your service (-who have left prison in the last 3 – 6 months).  Although I am keen to find people who would like to participate in our series; initially, the people that I speak to will be under no obligation to take part, and all calls will be in confidence.

If you have any further queries about the project please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached on 020 7378 6106 or by email on century@dircon.co.uk

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