Summary of the WORKPRIS In-Person Workshop

The in-person workshop of the WORKPRIS project, held in Prague on 11–12 June 2025, brought together professionals from across Europe to strengthen cooperation between Third Sector Organisations (TSOs), prison services, and other actors working in the correctional field (probation services, researchers, training academies).

Presentations and peer-led sessions highlighted national models, digital tools, and examples of good practice, while small-group work allowed participants to adapt insights to their own contexts. Key themes included TSO staff training and access requirements, use of digital tools, employment and (re)integration models, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration.

Building on earlier project activities, participants co-developed and validated a draft training framework defining the key skills and competencies needed for effective collaboration in prisons.

Day One

The first day began with a general presentation of the project, followed by Gabi Göbl (Richtungswechsel, Austria), who presented the results of the WORKPRIS mapping survey, outlining practices and challenges in TSO–prison collaboration, based on expert input from 17 European countries.

National programmes from the Czech and Slovak contexts were presented.

Captain Mgr. Zdeněk Chudoba from the Czech Prison Service Academy and Mgr. Gabriela Kulhánková from the General Directorate of the Czech Prison Service introduced their unified training programme for TSO staff working in prisons.

The training aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of work with incarcerated people, raise awareness of prison structures and penological trends, and enhance prison safety.

The presentation emphasized that TSOs are key partners in reducing risk factors, supporting education, developing social skills, and lowering recidivism, making this cooperation essential for successful reintegration.

PhDr. Blanka Šimčisková, PhD. from the General Directorate of the Prison and Justice Guard Corps (Slovakia) presented the “Bridges – A Chance for Return” programme (2018–2023), which supported incarcerated people in core reintegration areas, including housing, addiction treatment, employment, and digital literacy.

Day Two

The second day began with Gabi Göbl (Richtungswechsel) leading a scenario-based training session, allowing participants to simulate possible situations in prison settings. The session addressed the common challenge that TSOs often enter prisons without any formal training.

An interactive session led by RESHAPE (Portugal) and A-GIGA (Czech Republic) focused on the topic

“Cooperation between TSOs and Prison Services: Employment and Labour Market Perspectives.”

Elis Bastos and Catarina Medeiros presented RESHAPE’s integrated model, which includes employment in a ceramics-based social enterprise, transitional housing, and soft skills training.

Ing. Věra Babišová presented A-GIGA’s approach to pre-release support, post-release assistance, and prison-based employment via operating call centres.

Participants also discussed reintegration into the labour market, comparing the role of social enterprises with direct entry into mainstream employment. Social enterprises were viewed as supportive but sometimes limited in scope and remuneration, while mainstream jobs offered more sustainable pathways but required stronger employer engagement and increased public awareness.

The discussion emphasised the need for early reintegration planning, salary regulation, and inter-ministerial coordination.

Following the presentations, participants joined small-group discussions to reflect on the content and share their perspectives. This provided space to connect the examples with national contexts, identify transferable practices, and highlight shared challenges.

Barbara Bosina (CIK Trebnje, Slovenia) closed the workshop by summarising the two-day event, highlighting key takeaways, thanking participants for their active engagement, and inviting them to the final online seminar of the WORKPRIS project. She also shared platforms where the project can be followed and where participants can continue to engage with its further development.

The WORKPRIS project is funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD GMBH. Neither the European Union nor OeAD GMBH can be held responsible for them.