PRISONERS on Portland are becoming qualified to teach Football to youngsters when they are released.

HMP the Verne has become the only prison in England where inmates can qualify for the Football Association’s level two coaching badge within the jail walls.

This has become possible for 11 inmates because physical education manager Ritchie Carter is qualified to teach the course and he also gained a £1,000 donation from Paragon Skills for Industry.

Mr Carter said he has noticed a big change in the 11 men since they started their daily lessons on the Verne pitch.

He said: “Their progress has been tremendous.

“It’s their attitude and the way they conduct themselves and the way they are with other people.

“Football is a great learning tool for things like knowing when to be serious and when you can have a bit of a laugh.”

Mr Carter laughed off suggestions that the inmates would kick the balls over the prison walls and ask to go and collect them.

He said: “The progress in their coaching has been tremendous.

“And in our Friday league we’ve already noticed the difference.”

He added: “It’s fantastic that Paragon have come in to support the project at this time.”

To pass the course the inmates have to complete a minimum of 90 hours’ training but will do 200 hours as they are out on the pitch every day.

The prisoners take it in turns to plan and organise the training sessions so that they are in charge of what happens themselves.

Ian Doherty, 33, from London, is among three inmates in discussions with football league one club Charlton Athletic to teach youngsters once they are released.

He said: “I’ve been writing to Charlton and I’m looking to get involved because I’ve got two small sons myself and it’s a good way to get back to interacting with them.

“You get a lot out of this as well.

“It gives you more motivation while you’re in here and if I wasn’t here I probably wouldn’t have done this.

“Don’t get me wrong it’s not good to come to prison but it’s one of the best courses you can do.”

Fellow prisoner Winston Williams, from Essex, praised Mr Carter for running the course.

He said: “It makes you feel happy because you are doing something you love.

“You look forward to it every day and it makes you so happy it becomes a part of you.”

Kim Reynolds, Paragon’s operations manager for business and commerce, said she visited the prison activities with her director Dan O’Keefe after Mr Carter contacted them.

She said: “We could see the benefits in being able to go back into their communities and turning their lives around.”