PF Scotland and the Sycamore Tree Project®
In December 2008, a new private prison opened in Scotland, HMP Addiewell. The prison management plans to introduce rehabilitation programmes with defined content and outcomes. PF Scotland’s Sycamore Tree Project® was among the first to be introduced in May 2009.
In her report, Terry Paterson, the PF Scotland Director of Operations, explains how the course was well attended with 10 of the 11 men recruited for the programme completing it. The prisoners were recruited through the efforts of both the prison chaplain and prisoners who had gone through the programme in other institutions.
One course participant described his experience with, “This course has made me think about nearly every mistake I’ve ever made and how those mistakes affected people. How much I’ve taken from society and how I can start to pay it back by rebuilding my life in the right way. It’s made me see things from many points of view and opened my eyes to a lot more things. It’s made me realise that there is good within me, gave me a lot of self-confidence and made me see what’s important in life.”
HMP Addiewell management have also expressed satisfaction with the Sycamore Tree Project® and is exploring further course deliveries with PF Scotland.
