The Princess Elizabeth Hospital has got some new benches, which were built by inmates working in the CLIP workshop at Les Nicolles.
The Creative Learning in Prison workshop gives prisoners opportunities to gain skills and qualifications in carpentry and joinery, through real projects constructing garden furniture and making a wide variety of other items for schools, community groups, and other charities as well as private individuals.
Hidde van der Ham, the Workshop Lead Officer at Guernsey Prison, said this was a great project for the team.
“We were approached by the hospital to make some benches for them and were pleased to assist. Projects like this enable the prisoners to give something back to the community as well as developing new skills whilst also working towards City & Guilds qualifications which we hope will give them a better chance of finding a job on release and ultimately not coming back into prison”.
The bench has been installed at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital outside the Victoria Wing.
Ward Manager Jane Baker said it’s ideally placed for patients and their visitors to use.
“We chose to contact CLIP to make the benches as we feel strongly about rehabilitation for our patients, so chose to use the prison workshop as we are aware the making of the items assists with the rehabilitation of prisoners.
Pictured; A blue storage bench made by prisoners supported by CLIP. 
Pictured; Some of the projects undertaken at the CLIP workshop will help brighten the day of School Children locally. 
Pictured; A set of planters that were privately sold by the charity. 
Pictured; A recently completed sandpit made as part of a larger school project… 
…which folds out into a set on benches.
“The money for Victoria Wing had been very kindly donated and I thought utilising the outdoor area would be hugely beneficial for both our patients’ recovery and for visiting families.
“We all know how important vitamin D is in helping with the healing process. We are delighted with the benches along with continued maintenance by CLIP”.
Other items built in the CLIP workshop are available for purchase.
Anne-Marie Elliott, Administration Co-ordinator for CLIP said the work the inmates are doing offers benefits for the wider community as well as for themselves.
“CLIP works to provide opportunities for prisoners in partnership with the prison and other agencies and this is a great example of another collaborative project which will benefit members of the local community,” she said.
You can read more about CLIP, the work it does towards rehabilitation and how it functions in our Community Champion Highlight HERE.