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HMP Kirklevington Grange praised for dedication to education and employment by independent monitors

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HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange

The function of HMP Kirklevington Grange is to prepare prisoners for release via education, accommodation, and the best chance of gaining employment when they rejoin the community. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) highlights in its 2024 annual report (published today 30 May 2025) the respectful attitude both staff and prisoners have for each other in maintaining this ethos. This is evident in the calm atmosphere seen throughout the prison and the number of joint activities between staff and prisoners.

The IMB is pleased to note that:

  • The gym personnel offered a variety of activities throughout the year, including ‘Walking the Cleveland Way’, a popular national walk of 175 km, which is taken in portions and had good involvement from prisoners and staff.
  • A total of 85.38% of eligible prisoners were allocated educational placements across the reporting year. The IMB observed classes that were calm, purposeful and supportive, with no sessions cancelled during the reporting year, as staff absences were either covered by others or classes were rearranged.
  • In the Board’s view, the prison worked hard to remove barriers to prisoners’ employment, for example by hiring vans to transport prisoners to external workplaces.

However, the Board also highlights that:

  • There is still no visible progress on the development of replacement accommodation units under the rapid deployment cell programme. Without this, the prison’s capacity continues to be below the optimum level.
  • In the Board’s view, changes to government policies undermined the success achieved in prisoner employment. Some of the businesses that employed prisoners expected them to be available to work for lengthy periods, only to find they were released early.

IMB Kirklevington Grange Chair, Colin Stratton, said:

“With such uncertainty and negative publicity surrounding the prison estate over recent months, the IMB at HMP Kirklevington Grange is pleased to report on a well-run establishment going to great lengths to give prisoners the best opportunity to succeed on their release, the principal objective of a prison in the open estate.

In the coming reporting year, the Board hopes to see work begin under the rapid deployment cell programme so that an increased number of prisoners can benefit from the support offered at HMP Kirklevington Grange.”