As Head of Centre at EKC Training Eastchurch, Danny plays a key role in supporting learners at HM Prison Standford Hill to develop professional skills and recognised qualifications.
With a range of trade and employability courses, the Centre supports rehabilitation and prepares learners for a positive transition into employment on release.
We spoke to Danny about his background, how the Centre has developed over the last ten years, and what he enjoys about his work.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started working at Eastchurch?
“I started with EKC Training as a Technician, which would now be a Skills Practitioner role. I used to work as a bathroom fitter before taking the job here.
“I then got my teaching degree which led to a Lecturer’s post and then becoming Programme Director.
“Three years ago, I got offered the Head of Centre job here.
“When I first started, we had one room down here. Me and another lecturer, Mark, built up the provision from there. We only started with plumbing, but over the years, we’ve introduced the different courses as the years have gone on.
“I would always say to anyone starting as a Skills Practitioner or a similar role with EKC Training, that you have got the opportunity to work your way up. It’s very rare that a company will pay for the qualifications that we get offered here for free.”
What does Eastchurch offer?
“We offer a variety of courses. 95% of our learners are from Standford Hill Prison.
“We do Level 2 Diplomas in Plumbing, Electrical, Site Carpentry, Bricklaying, the NVQ in Rail Engineering, with an option to do the PTS, and a variety of employability courses like Cyber Security and Health and Safety.”
Tell us more about the latest offering – Site Carpentry:
“We’ve just introduced Site Carpentry, and it’s become quite popular with the learners.
“They’ve got woodwork stores inside of Standford Hill where they build furniture.
“Our Site Carpentry qualification is more focused around creating doors, architrave, skirting and stuff like that.
“Towards the end of it, when the learners finish, they get the opportunity to make little benches or little chairs, that we allow them to keep and store here for when they’re released, and then they can take them home.”
Tell us about the new Bricklaying workshop:
“Originally, it was just a bit of land with nothing on it, but the learners have built the concrete base, they’ve built the wood panels, they’ve enabled running water inside. There’s also now an electric system.
“As we had recycled bricks and plumbing tanks left over, they also managed to actually build a pond with a decking area.
“You wouldn’t think it was out of old recycled bits and bobs really that would normally get chucked away, but it’s one of the biggest things I’m proud of.”
What’s the biggest benefit of studying a course at Eastchurch?
“Someone would come to Standford Hill with five years or less left on their sentence. In that time, they have the chance to take on any of our courses here.
“We’ve tried over the years to build up a reputation where these courses are City and Guilds, NOC and accredited qualifications.
“As they come towards the end of their sentences they can go out and work for five, six days a week if they want to. Being here gives them the opportunity to have a bit of a head start on anyone else in terms of skills.
“When they come to us, some people have been in prison for two years, some have been in here for ten years. It gives them that opportunity to get a trade behind them, ready for when they are released.
“Thanks to us, they have a better opportunity of being employed straight away.”
Finally, what’s your favourite thing about working for EKC Training?
“I really enjoy my work with the learners. You’d be very surprised at how many of them just actually want to get out and get a job and make some money.
“It’s an adult environment, but because they’re so used to being in prison, we try and make the environment like you’re at any other College. It’s good to see that they’re getting other education outside of that environment.”
A big thank you to Danny for sharing his experience and the work he leads at EKC Training Eastchurch.
To learn more about the training delivered at the centre and the impact it has on learners, visit our EKC Training Eastchurch centre page.
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