Large supermarkets open the UK’s first “in-prison” convenience store for prisoners in the UK’s largest prison
A major supermarket chain has set up the UK’s first “inside prison” branch to help prisoners adapt to the outside world after release.
Icelandic food retailer opened a store last month in HMP Oakwood in Featherstone, Staffordshire, the largest prison in England.
The branch gives prisoners the opportunity to use monopoly money to stock up on groceries, including branded products such as Chicago Town Pizza and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream that are unavailable on the prison wing,,,,, era Report
The supermarket is the first of its kind in the UK and is part of a new “market” built in a huge warehouse inside the prison, looking like a shopping mall.
Along with Iceland, the market also has a coffee shop called “Hopeful Ground” which includes prisoner baristas, a fruit and vegetable stall and a casual shop called “JP Sports”.
Prisoners can earn currency in stores, up to £25 a week, to reward good behavior in Class C prisons – although the price is cheaper than high street shops in Iceland.
The store also offers jobs for certain inmates as they also provide jobs at the end of their sentences to help them relax their route to return to the world of work after release.
HMP Oakwood is one of 15 private prisons in England and Wales, run by security company G4S.
Icelandic food retailer opened a store last month at HMP Oakwood, the largest prison in England, in Featherstone, Staffordshire
The store also offers jobs for certain inmates as they also provide jobs at the end of their sentences to help them relax their route to return to the world of work after release. Pictured: Shoppers in Ipswich UK (not prison shops)
Prisoners can earn monopoly style money with good behaviors that they can use to buy merchandise including Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of HM Prison, named the program “exceptionally effective” – last year HMP Oakwood named England’s No. 1 prison.
Mr Taylor praised the prison for its strong leadership, high expectations for prisoners and the “culture of initiatives for prisoners’ leadership” and called it “the best prison for my then-chief inspector.”
It was a major turnaround for HMP Oakwood, known as “Jokewood” by prisoners ten years ago.
Prison inspectors were severely criticized in 2013 because of the soaring levels of violence and the ease with which prisoners can obtain drugs.
“When a lot of prisoners go to jail, they hire me? I’m in jail,” said Ellen Herickx, the head of employment in Iceland.
‘”It’s that, that’s the end of my life, because no one will take me there.” So when they have a second chance, they grab it with their hands. ” she said.
“They are unlikely to re-offend because they have structure, routine, stability, so they are less likely to go on the right path immediately. They are grateful because they didn’t expect there would be other opportunities.
The market is the creative idea of HMP Oakwood’s employability Carly Balis head who helps identify prisoners suitable for Iceland officials within Iceland.
Other brands are available for prisoners to buy in Iceland, including Chicago Town Pizza and other items
Since 2022, she has passed on their details to Iceland’s Rehabilitation Director Paul Cowley MBE, who pioneered the second opportunity program for the supermarket giant.
Mr. Coley was sentenced to brief jail for a minor crime, then served in the armed forces and then joined the clergy, The Times reported.
Under his leadership, Iceland has been helping former criminals throughout the UK return to the workforce.
Iceland employs about 350 former prisoners in total, and before release, another 300 have job offers.
Mr. Cowley interviewed all potential inmate employees and then assigned successful candidates in the store or as a delivery driver.
Governor Sean Oliver of HMP Oakwood said the program helped some inmates re-know themselves with long sentences and made them “feel and understand what’s normal”.
Workers at this store often prisoners on a supermarket store basis, including places such as where baskets are placed and how to pay.
Prison reformers also say that giving prisoners work helps them invest in the future and prevents them from committing crime again.
