Meals for inmates at the Schleswig young offenders' institute are cooked every day in the prison kitchens. Nothing unusual about that, except that the kitchen is also a company offering vocational education and training.
Up to 13 young inmates can work there all-year-round with the support of experienced housekeepers and chefs. As they prepare meals, they prepare for the world of work, either on pre-vocational training or as part of their initial training as skilled restaurant workers.
Through pre-vocational training, young inmates can acquire basic skills which will be a valuable advantage if they apply for a traineeship in the restaurant trade when they are released. Those who are trained as skilled restaurant workers and acquire a vocational education and training qualification will be skilled workers for which there is demand on the labour market.
To show off their skills, the young inmates invited representatives from industry, politics and the judiciary to dinner at the young offenders' institute. The three-course menu was inspired by the rich variety of Schleswig-Holstein, which lies between the North and Baltic Seas.
A prawn cocktail starter was followed by the main course of pork medallions dressed with green beans, bacon and potatoes. For dessert, a quark cream à la Fürst-Pückler was served.
Anke Spoorendonk, State Minister of Justice for Schleswig-Holstein was among those invited. She took advantage of the opportunity to present school director and head of the Schleswig Vocational Training Centre, with official notification of funding worth €932,000 for the centre's work in 2015.
In doing so, she emphasised that the centre was one of the best respected and best networked regional training organisations. "The Schleswig Vocational Training Centre has made a remarkable job of matching the skills and knowledge of their target group with the demand and opportunities on the open labour market. The centre's commitment is clear from the fact that pre-vocational training scheme has been extended to provide training for to qualify as a skilled restaurant worker.
Together, the young offenders institute and the centre are working to enable young inmates to steer clear of criminality and live socially responsible lives. Preparing these youngsters to enter the labour market, by providing them with pre-vocational or vocational training is a cornerstone of this work," said Spoorendonk.
The €932.000 in funding consists of €387,000 from the European Social Fund and the federal programme for employment and money from Schleswig-Holstein to the tune of €545.000.
This cash will fund educational and vocational training from young inmates at the Schleswig Young Offenders Institution, with capacity for 70 students to undertake work experience in various trades (carpentry, metalwork, painting and decorating, construction and construction-related jobs, catering and cleaning), or vocational training for the restaurant trade.
This qualification includes occupational therapy, IT qualifications and support for entering the training and labour markets. The training on offer is designed in keeping with prevocational schemes offered by the German Federal Employment Agency beyond the prison walls.
Some inmates taking part will be able to acquire a qualification which is equivalent to the basic school leaving certificate. The vocational training scheme is subject to the rules of the Ordinance on Vocational Training. The training on offer is adapted to the needs and options of inmates between 14 and 24 years of age.
Some 16 members of centre staff are involved in the vocational preparation and vocational training scheme, as well as supporting inmates' entry onto the labour and training markets. Furthermore, as the local vocational school, the centre is also responsible for providing school lessons.
Hans-Herrmann Henken emphasised: "Our efforts on good school and vocational qualifications for young inmates also contribute to addressing the increasing lack of skilled workers. The youngsters who undergo pre-vocational or vocational training today in prison, and whom we can help find a traineeship or job when they are released are on the right road to becoming sought-after, skilled workers on tomorrow's labour market."
The scheme, pre-vocational measures for young inmates, is funded by the European Social Funds' federal programme for employment.
The Schleswig-Holstein government's labour market programme for 2014 – 2020 is designed to ensure sufficient skilled workers, support labour market entry for those at particular disadvantage and to support young people in achieving their potential.