If it wasn't for the razor wire-bedecked roofs, it could almost be the venue for a church coffee morning. We are in a cavernous hall lined with various stalls, staffed by expectant men and women in their thirties and forties. Above the polite chatter the strains of a Johnny Cash song can be heard.
Gradually, the room fills up with young men wearing blue and white striped shirts, black trousers and green or orange sweatshirts. There's a change of music - techno replaces the gentle country sounds as the DJ attempts to catch the new vibe. The young offenders have arrived.
Werrington Young Offender Institution (YOI) is situated on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent. CYP Now pays it a visit for its first resettlement fair, a chance for housing and training agencies to bring their messages to the inmates. The goal is simple: to cut the rate of reoffending when these young men are released.
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