Giving prisoners the chance to open their own bank accounts while they are serving their sentences can help cut re-offending rates according to research released today. The report from Liverpool John Moores University is based on a project under which offenders opened accounts with the Co-operative Bank.
The study’s author, Paul Jones, says the move appears to be having an impact on the rate of re-offending and he is calling for other banks to follow the Co-Operative’s lead. 

Wales is to put 350 million pounds into cross-cutting and strategic capital projects to help the country’s economy. The full value of the investment is likely to be more than doubled when funds from existing departmental capital budgets, local authorities and other parts of the public sector as well as the private and voluntary sectors is taken into account. 

This report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development uncovers the future focus for learning, training and development in UK organizations. It argues for a new definition of the trainer role to that of a facilitator of learning embedded specifically to the needs of employees and the organisation. 21st century trainers need a new mind-set as well as a new skill-set.