Promoting healthier lifestyles for prisoners - National Audit Office

Promoting healthier lifestyles for prisonersInspiring exercise – it's not all about weight training!Some prisoners exercise very readily, but for PEofficers, the biggest hurdle is to encourage themore reluctant to start. Once people have takenthe first step, many go on and progress to greaterthings when they are ready.Others, however, are easily “put off” by beingsurrounded by regular users or are embarrassed bybeing seen to be considerably less able.Others can be deterred by the environment– good facilities, changing rooms and showers canall help attract newcomers.Surveying prisoners annually is a useful way offinding out in which activities prisoners have enjoyedor think they have benefited from – as well as theirviews on what they’d like to do more of, or howthey’d like to see the range of facilities extended.Doing group activities ismuch more fun than doingexercise on your own22