AVP Britain > work in prisons

AVP courses are offered to men, women and young people in Prisons and Youth Offenders' Institutions across the UK.

excerpt from AVP video - © AVP Britain 2001

AVP courses help prisoners to build confidence, self esteem and trust. The workshops develop skills in communication, cooperation and help participants find ways of dealing with difficult situations without resorting to verbal or physical violence.

This has been particularly effective in reducing violence on prison wings. It also empowers prisoners to improve their relationships and change their behaviour on release.

The workshops we deliver in prisons are also available in the community across the UK so we are able to provide opportunities for resettlement and support beyond prison life through our network of local groups.

'After an AVP workshop prisoners are enthusiastic about skills and the experience of fellowship. They realise they have the capacity to manage situations much better than they hought in the past'

'I have seen a real change in many of the men who have undertaken the project. It seems to give them better understanding of self and an ability to help other people deal with issues and problems. The AVP programme fits well with accredited offending behaviour courses and offers opportunities for participants to practice and develop skills taught on accredited thinking skills programmes. The AVP programme has been a major contributor to the success of HMP Wymott and its rebuilding in the past few years'

Participant comments:

‘I have been in prison 17 years, and have completed all the different programmes available and AVP is the only one that has created a change in me.’

‘Before I went to AVP I felt that it was going to do nothing for me…it was just going to make me worse, but when I got there I felt that this might just do something for me and it DID. I don’t get angry anymore…I sit down and talk about the problem and it is so much easier and that was because of AVP…’

‘During my three day workshop I discovered that violence can be in us all – it need not be physical; that a vitriolic tongue can often have the same effect as a well placed punch and both can leave a mark on another.’

Download more information

• NOMS Safer Custody Group - Letter of Recommendation
  (Home Office National Offender Management Service)
• Tim Newell - Letter of Recommendation
  (former prison Governor)
• AVP Britain - Prisons Project Information Pack