How we can help

• The number of over 50s in prison is projected to rise to 14,100 by 2022—an increase of 3%. The most significant change is anticipated in the over 70s, projected to rise by 19%. (MOJ 2018)
• Of the 54% of older prisoners estimated to have a disability, 28% were estimated to have some form of physical disability, 15% anxiety and depression and 11% both. (HMPPS April 2018)
• 189 Older prisoners died in custody in 2016, 53% of the overall number of those that died in custody.  87% of the older prisoners died of natural causes. (HMPPS April 2018)

All latest stats and research can be found here.

Recoop delivers a number of services, primarily in prisons, for our older service users. We work with our partner organisations to provide regime adaptations and interventions to help meet the differing needs that this cohort presents with. We have a wealth of resource tools to help practitioners support their older service users. Some of these will be helpful to individuals with convictions looking at this website for additional help (see our Self-Help page). When funding allows, our longer term plan is to expand our services to help more individuals in the community.

The Members’ section of the Recoop website is dedicated to professionals who work with, or are interested in working with, older offenders. If you work in a prison, the Criminal Justice sector, or for a voluntary sector organisation working in the Criminal Justice arena, you will be able to access our range of specialist resources. These include information, advice and guidance on working with older offenders, training materials and session plans for running group activities.

Please note that the resource library is being built up over time, so do keep checking to find out what new resources have been made available. To sign up as a member please complete the Membership application form.

Recoop was proud to manage a project, funded centrally by HMPPS, designed “To assess the need and ability of prisons and approved premises to adapt their regimes to meet the needs of older offenders”.

It became apparent during the life of the project, that there was already a great deal of good work being carried out with the older population. Despite the absence of a national policy, coupled with the economic challenges faced by the project prisons, there was a definite commitment to improve the provision of services and support to older prisoners.

We have taken our research and project development achievements, coupled with some best practice already in existence, and consolidated it into ‘Good Practice Guides’ to act as a support reference for continued use beyond the life of the project and copies are available to download below.