Wolves legend backs prison coaching course

A group of football enthusiasts in prison had the chance to meet Wolves legend Karl Henry as they began to prepare for life outside jail.

The former captain paid a visit to HMP Oakwood, in Featherstone, to deliver a coaching session to a cohort of 16 inmates.

It forms part of a 10-week programme delivered by Wolves Foundation staff, which leads to a coaching qualification that can be used after release.

"Some of the guys were talking about how they want to use the qualification upon their release, and from all the discussions it sounds like it's been a really positive experience," said Henry.

The programme is part of the Twinning Project, a partnership between HM Prison and Probation Service and professional clubs, with the objective of twinning every prison in England and Wales with a local professional football club.

Henry added: "It was a real pleasure to visit HMP Oakwood and meet all the guys who had completed the course as part of the Twinning Project.

"I think anyone who knows me knows how much I love debating about football, and we had some great discussions about coaching methods and past and present players."

The Twinning Project was first launched back in 2018 by David Dein, former vice-chairman of Arsenal and the Football Association (FA).

Wolves Foundation has been involved in delivering several programmes at both Oakwood and HMP Brinsford in recent years.

Describing what the course involves, Twinning Project relationship lead, Farhad Olaleye, said: "It is a mix of theory learning and the practical, delivering sessions in front of their peers, and they can also follow up by completing safeguarding and first aid modules upon their release."

Sarah-Louise Evans, senior employability officer at the Foundation, added: "For Karl to give up his time to attend the final session provided the perfect end for this programme and provided some fascinating insight for the prisoners who had completed the course."

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