Alison Hernandez: National Award for Devon-born Prisoners Building Homes scheme

I’m really proud to be sharing the news that Prisoners Building Homes has won Programme of the Year at the UK Civil Service Awards.

This is a huge achievement and a moment worth celebrating, not just for the team behind the programme, but for everyone who believes that rehabilitation, skills and opportunity can genuinely change lives. 

What makes this even more special for me is that Prisoners Building Homes began right here in Devon and Cornwall, led by my office. It grew out of local ambition and a willingness to think differently about how we stop people reoffending upon release from prison. It’s the best thing we can do for victims because whether we like it or not, multiple governments have allowed the early release of prisoners and a lack of investment in prison expansion. 

When we started this scheme, the reoffending rate after prison release was around 50 per cent and prisons were on the verge of being full.  

What started as a regional idea has now become a nationally recognised programme, proving that innovation in the South West can influence change right across the country. 

Prisoners Building Homes, or PBH as it’s more widely known, started with a simple but powerful idea: that people in prison can be part of the solution to some of the biggest challenges we face. By training serving prisoners and supporting them into work on release, the programme helps tackle the construction skills shortage while also delivering high-quality, affordable and low-energy homes on difficult public-sector sites that might otherwise be left unused. 

From the very beginning, Police and Crime Commissioners recognised the potential of this approach. We understood that meaningful employment is one of the strongest factors in reducing reoffending and making communities safer. Giving people the chance to gain real qualifications, real experience and real jobs is not about being soft on crime, it’s about being smart on crime and focusing on what actually works. 

When we started PBH, we were not allowed to take pictures, film or produce a press release about the work without the sign off at the highest level of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). 

Through sheer persistence, we have now produced films and facilitated media coverage to promote the scheme. Some of the prisoners who were interviewed said being part of this initiative had helped them overcome suicidal thoughts. 

I believe committing crime should result in punishment, but also in giving people a second chance and the last thing we want is for people to leave prison and go back to creating more victims. 

 As Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and as the APCC national lead for criminal justice, I see first-hand how important it is to join up policing, prisons, probation, housing and employment. My national role allows me to champion approaches like PBH across England and Wales, sharing best practice and pushing for solutions that reduce reoffending, cut crime and ultimately protect the public. 

What makes PBH stand out is the way it brings partners together. The civil service award reflects the commitment and collaboration of the One Public Estate team, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local Partnerships LLP, local authorities, employers and prisons. It also reflects the dedication of the people delivering the work on the ground every day, often in challenging circumstances, and the participants themselves who choose to grasp the opportunity in front of them. 

If it wasn’t for a prison group leader and a prison governor putting their heads above the parapet and working with us, PBH would never have happened. 

The results speak for themselves. Participants gain nationally recognised construction qualifications and practical experience in modern methods of construction that employers genuinely value. Around 89 per cent of those completing the programme move straight into employment on release, compared with a national average of around 19 per cent. Reoffending rates among PBH participants are below five per cent, far lower than the national picture. Those numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent fewer victims, safer communities and better outcomes for everyone. 

We’ve also seen PBH deliver outstanding housing projects. One that really stands out is Fortis House in Henwood, Kent, where 23 zero-operational-carbon homes were built on a challenging site that had previously gone undeveloped. The project went on to win a major construction industry award, beating much larger competitors, with judges recognising both the quality of the build and the powerful social impact behind it. These are homes people can be proud of, built sustainably and delivering real social value. 

My role in criminal justice is about prevention as much as enforcement. I want fewer crimes, fewer victims and fewer people stuck in a cycle of reoffending. Supporting initiatives like Prisoners Building Homes is a key part of that work. I was incredibly proud to support the first PBH home in Torbay in 2021, and even prouder to see the programme grow from its Devon and Cornwall roots into a national success story. 

This award is also a reminder that rehabilitation works best when we stop working in silos. PBH shows what can happen when housing, justice, skills and local government come together with a shared goal. It proves that we don’t have to choose between punishment and progress, we can hold people accountable while also giving them a genuine chance to rebuild their lives. 

I also want to recognise PBH delivery manager Sophie Baker, whose leadership and belief in this programme have been central to its success. Even though she couldn’t attend the awards ceremony, her impact has been felt at every stage. I would also like to commend Fran Hughes, the CEO of my office, who, as governance specialist, has pushed the envelope to its limits, while also winning Director of the Year in the recent West Country Women Awards. 

While it’s fantastic to see PBH recognised on a national stage, this isn’t a moment to stand still. There is more to do – more people to support, more homes to build and more communities to strengthen. Winning Programme of the Year is a real vote of confidence in what Prisoners Building Homes stands for, and I’m excited to see how this Devon and Cornwall-born idea continues to change lives across the country. 

To find out more about PBH, please click here.