This panel brings together a set of presentations exploring the growing recognition of the meaning, value and role of sport and physical activity in our prisons (Meek, 2013). We focus on the ways in which structured and unstructured sport and physical activity programmes and experiences can and do contribute to efforts to promote wellbeing, identity transformation, therapeutic relationships and desistance in our prisons. We explore the unique role that PE staff - and the prison gyms that they operate - play in the day-to-day functioning of our prisons and some of the ways in which sporting and physical activity initiatives, including running, yoga and team sports, provide a unique opportunity for community organisations to support prison staff and those in their care.

Meek’s paper opens with a summary of findings from the last decade, with a particular focus on the value, challenges and opportunities of partnership working between prison staff and community groups and organisations. One such example of partnership working is explored further in Edmondson’s paper, 'Prisoners' experiences of custodial parkrun in the UK', focusing on the parkrun initiative in the male prison estate in England, and how the perceived impact of this initiative links to desistance and the development of a rehabilitation culture.

Maycock’s subsequent paper, 'Prison gyms as places to perform diverse masculinities' draws on data collected within Scottish prison gyms. Maycock recognises that prison gyms are places where different things are possible, that this includes the performance of a variety of masculinities and that the role of Physical Education Instructors (PEIs) is central to this. Extending the focus on the prison gym and wrapping up the panel by foregrounding the voices of imprisoned people and staff who work with them, is Barkham’s paper '“If it wasn't for the gym, these lads would've given up a long time ago": writing emotion and raising the bar(s) in ethnographic prisons research'.

Reference:
Meek, R. (2013). Sport in Prison: Exploring the Role of Physical Activity in Correctional Settings. Abingdon: Routledge

Individual papers:

The value, challenges and opportunities in partnership working between prisons and community sporting groups and organisations.
Rosie Meek, Royal Holloway University of London

Prisoners' experiences of custodial parkrun.
Lisa Edmondson, PhD Candidate, Royal Holloway University of London

Prison gyms as places to perform diverse masculinities.
Matthew Maycock, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Monash University, Australia

"If it wasn't for the gym, these lads would've given up a long time ago": Writing emotion and raising the bar(s) in ethnographic prisons research.
Georgina Barkham, PhD Candidate, University of Bath