10 years of 3Pillars

I never believed 3Pillars would become what it is today. Both the size and impact, but also the character of the organisation. We are more than just a sports charity, we support people beyond the pitch with some really profound mentoring.

I had a blast from the past recently. A photo taken 10 years ago of myself, Will and Mike the two coaches who joined us on our pilot course in HMP Wandsworth. I was definitely more fresh faced then.

Originally we set out with a vision to build a mentoring programme based around sport, mainly rugby, and using values of leadership learned in the Army. Doing my research, Professor Rosie Meek was one of my first ports of call. She helped by introducing us to the gym team at HMP Wandsworth to run a pilot and sharing her research with us.

It was very much a start up, building the track as the train travels, mentality. When I was asked for a course plan by the prison, I had to do a rapid drafting in 48 hours, to demonstrate that we really had a plan beyond running rugby sessions, with teamwork tasks and open conversation circles.

We were asked for our employment partners; we had none. But I also didn't think they were needed.

What I felt young men in custody needed most was the building of a sense of hope, self discipline and community, and behaviours which lead to opportunity. This remains true. If you cannot address the behaviours or challenges that are a barrier to success, then all the job opportunities in the world will be in vain.

As we've grown as an organisation, we've been able to build around and beyond this view. We now understand far more about the role of trauma in our participants’ journeys, we have hard won experience about working in prisons and also the behaviour of course graduates post release. This all supported by a learning culture that adapts as we learn new lessons.

Some of our ongoing results, gleaned through an ongoing academic partnership with Loughborough University demonstrate that our course participants demonstrate 90% Increased Self-Regulation, 95% Increased Self-esteem, and 97% Increased Resilience. This highlights the underlying character and behaviours development that enhances broader impact, such as 67% of our course graduates moved into employment or education within 6 months post-release, compared to 31% nationally for prison leavers.

10 years on means that this year is 3Pillars Project’s 10th Anniversary of that pilot course.

We are advocating for the power of physical activity paired with mentoring and personal development programmes by devising and delivering best practice, not just talking about it.

The path has not been clear. The decisions made not perfect. But they have been done with best intent and guided by advice and consideration by some amazing supporters.

We have a year of events and celebration ahead, driven by a team who really know what they're doing. We'll be running exciting activities, which we would love for you to get involved in.

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