Highlighting the importance of softer skills on rehabilitation

Whilst Eurovision fever gripped the country last weekend, many of the CFO Activity Hubs took the chance to celebrate the occasion with participants. This brought into focus the importance that these spaces have in engaging participants through softer skills.

CFO Activity Hubs and CFO3’s delivery model and progression of these ‘soft skills’ is a key stage in breaking the cycle of re-offence and becoming more open to other provisions. Particular progress can be seen in the social and emotional aspects of learning that contribute to reintegrating into local societies and becoming work ready.

A prime example of these skills include arts, crafts, cooking, music, writing and more. All of which are creative outlets that help to improve self-esteem, motivation and pro social networks, to name just a few of the benefits.

Take the below Eurovision art display from our Liverpool CFO Activity Hub for example. The piece is named, 'a peaceful singer,' with an underlying message to create harmony and to not harm anyone. The collaborative effort has been created using clothing and painted messages, with a Eurovision note board also being painted by participants.

The space was granted to the Hub in return for participants helping to clean and tidy the area as part of the 'Do Good To Be Good' intervention. Staff at the Liverpool Hub noted that taking part in the project has boosted participants’ confidence and made them feel valued in their community.

Arts and crafts are a key feature across CFO Activity Hubs and serve as a great introduction to the spaces, opening up routes for participants to engage with other matters such as housing, finances and employment.

At the Birmingham CFO Activity Hub Jonathan* enjoys engaging with these art interventions, and said: “It’s a home from home for me. Some days when I just don’t feel like getting out of bed, I just go to the Hub. They don’t force me to get involved in anything and I know I can always join in activities or ask for arts and crafts materials if I want them. I don’t really expect to see anyone outside the Hub, so I just come here instead.”

Allowing participants to engage in softer activities on probation help them to feel more comfortable in themselves, and allow for relationship building with others, just like in Jonathan’s* case.

This sense of inclusion and self-worth through softer interventions can be felt by Peter* at the Stoke CFO Activity Hub too, who said: “I do poetry mainly, I write about everything that pops into my head, because I’ve been there, experienced it. It’s good for your mental health to do poetry, I find it relaxing. I did that one [points to participant newsletter], I like being part of it, putting something together for the Hub.”

Softer skills can stretch to sporting interventions too, and play a key part in custody, not just the community. Recently, the Community Living Unit (CLU) at HMP High Down hosted a charity football match between participants and staff. Jordan*, participant at the CLU, organised the event himself and worked hard in encouraging donations.

This helped to create a sense of unity on the wing, and was particularly effective for Jordan* who stated, “For me I was already on the wing but now everything is very consistent. I can avoid some of the issues like violence or gangs and stuff. 5K runs, football and things help us to be part of the community, getting staff involved to build rapport break down barriers to rapport which is really important.”

Asked about the impact of these softer skills on participants, Emma Hart, Shaw Trust Senior Case Manager at the CLU, said: “For individuals who have been in custody for a long time this offers an opportunity for them to upskill themselves in areas, such as cooking, that have not been addressed by mandatory offender behaviour programmes. These skills are crucial for resettlement into the community and are often neglected along their prison journey.”

Ruby Martin, who also works as a Shaw Trust Case Manager at the CLU added: “Softer skills are extremely important for our participants, specifically communication. Overall, without soft skills the unit (CLU) would not be what it is/becoming.”

CFO continue to introduce new soft skills to participants both in the community and custody, breaking down barriers to prevent reoffence, build confidence and wellbeing, bring participants closer to the labour market and helping them reintegrate into their societies across the country.

Skills such as these represent ideal ways of introducing participants to CFO programmes, and are a key stepping stone on the path for many.

To learn more about CFO provisions, please visit our website here: HMPPS Co-Financing Organisation (creatingfutureopportunities.gov.uk)

Alternatively, explore more about the benefit of CFO’s softer skills in our article about the All Star programme here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/becoming-all-star-impact-programme-co-financing-organisation