Cornerstone No. 192, page 8
Prison Course is First for Scotland
Three inmates at Perth Prison have become the first in
Scotland to complete the Journey to Freedom course,
delivered by the prison chaplaincy team and Perth YMCA.
Journey to Freedom arose from the YMCA Restore Small
Groups course founded by Scott Reall in 2000, and is
increasingly used in penal systems in the US and else-
where as a formal part of progression and rehabilitation.
Delivered in small groups led by trained facilitators, it helps people begin to
redefine and address areas of their lives where they have seen themselves as
without hope.
Prison chaplain Deirdre Yellowlees says: “The course is led by trained facilitators
and offers a safe and encouraging place for participants to step out of contem-
plating change into real action acknowledging that a positive relationship with
God and others is critical in developing a lasting resilience.”
The Perth group was facilitated by Deirdre, with Alyxs Shaw and Franny
McGrath from Perth YMCA. Although three students dropped out through
transfer and illness, John, Matthew and Craig graduated in early March as the
first JTF students in the UK. Their achievement was recognised by a celebration
at which they were presented with certificates.
Deirdre says: “The participants testify to the skills and empathy of the facilita-
tors that enabled them to journey through material that requires courage and
commitment, finding hope renewed or even recognising this for the first time.
With confidence developed and nurtured, the growth of development within,
resources to equip and enable further self-understanding and growth the course
has been a great success.
“Moving forward, with support from YMCA locally one of the students will be
trained as a facilitator after release supporting his own development and
regeneration. We also intend to offer further courses throughout the prison
ensuring we provide positive opportunities for those in our custody.”
From
the magazine of the Church of Scotland
Life
& Work
Deadline for the next edition of Cornerstone
15 th July 2018