The Twinning Project is a partnership between Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and professional football clubs. The Trust is one of 66 Clubs who are committed to bringing about a change to those released from prison.

It is an employability initiative to engage prisoners, who are soon due for release, in football-based programmes with the aim of educating, improving mental and physical health and for prisoners to gain a qualification which will help improve their life chances and likelihood of employment on release.

The Trust delivered the project to their first cohort in 2020 working with 12 prisoners, specially selected by prison staff, each week at Oakwood Prison. In 2021, we took the Programme to Werrington Young Offenders Institution where we are working with young people ages 15-17 years.

Our professional coaches, supported by prison PE officers, co-deliver a range of sporting qualifications, coaching, stewarding, lifestyle skills and other employability-based qualifications and workshops which combine both theory and practical sessions. Preparing prisoners for life on the outside by upskilling, increasing confidence and qualifications to support them to find employment and ultimately reduce the likelihood of re-offending which is currently a huge cost to the country and local communities

The Twinning project is backed by the Government and UK’s leading football bodies including Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, Professional Footballer’s Association and Professional Game Match Officials Limited.