Joined presentation of the Dutch Justice Department & Bohemian Foundation
EFDN is delighted to announce that Gerko Brink, from the Dutch Justice Department and the Bohemian Foundation will be present at the EFDN Conference to discuss their methodology on how to reintegrate detainees into the job market.
“Work through Sport” – A justice programme for reintegration into the workplace
In this presentation, Gerko Brink will introduce the programme , a justice programme that is being delivered in the Netherlands. It focuses on reintegrating prisoners in a sustainable manner into the job market. Next to presenting the programme’s focal points of success with the help of several examples, Gerko will show a film about the yearly international football tournament that takes place in a Dutch prison. The tournament was among others attended by the foundations of Schalke 04 and Bohemian FC.
Therefore, the presentation will be joined by the Bohemian Foundation. Bohemian participated previously with their programme participants at one of the tournaments in the Netherlands. At the 10th EFDN Conference, Bohemian will share their experience.
Successful reintegration into job market
For the past three years, the Dutch “Work through Sport”project has proved to be very successful. Until now, 181 detainees have been or are currently involved in the programme. 54 out of the 181 participants have a success story to tell. 47 offenders managed to find a paid job through the support of the programme. The programme has a cooperation with 40 sport clubs, of which most are football clubs. Sport clubs have the advantage that they are often supported by sponsors and employers, additionally, most of them are looking for volunteers. ‘Work through Sport’ considers these circumstances as a win-win situation. The cooperation with the clubs have been established in order to create an innovative, sustainable way to help the detainees into finding a workplace.
The programme ‘Work through Sport’ focuses most of all on providing daytime activities, volunteering and helping the detainees to find sustainable work.
‘Work through Sport’ is focused on the following three pillars:
- Day activities and volunteering: Assisting at amateur club with the ultimate goal of finding a paid position.
- Working at a stadium: During and after imprisonment working at a professional football club with the ultimate goal of finding a paid position through the club’s business club.
- Reintegration into the work environment: Participating in reintegration programmes of football clubs that are focused on helping people to find a paid position.
