Transforming Hydebank Wood Young Offender's Centre into a Secure Training College

This briefing paper examines the transformation of Hydebank Wood Young Offender’s Centre into a Secure Training College. Hydebank Wood Young Offender’s Centre was used to detain young men in Northern Ireland aged between 18 and 21. This transformation was recommended by an independent review panel examining the conditions, management and oversight of prisons in Northern Ireland. A Secure Training College aims to reduce re-offending by encouraging participation in educational and vocational programmes and endeavouring to ensure that individuals leave prison with the motivation, self-discipline and independence to commit to further studies, training or employment. Hydebank Wood first began operating as a Secure Training College in April 2015. This paper is based on the findings emerging from Keira Flanagan’s PhD research, which investigates the impact of this transformational process, and forthcoming academic publications by Keira Flanagan and Dr Michelle Butler.