Inmates hoping to stay in shape at Northward Prison now have the benefit of a new-and-improved gym, which was reopened earlier this month.
The facility had been shut for repairs to the flooring and walls, and replacement of fitness equipment.
“Before we had carpets on the floor and that was a hazard because mould was a factor and the dust,” prison officer Shaun Mitchell, who is also the gym instructor, told the Compass at the reopening.
He noted that the uneven floors had been an issue for years but that had finally been sorted.
“You can say that it’s fairly a new facility because we’ve painted the entire gym as well,” Mitchell said.
The gym was shut down for two weeks as inmates with backgrounds in building and repair trades worked on the facility.
“All the work was done by inmates. We have some very talented inmates and they were all willing to pitch in,” he said.
Finding purpose through fitness
A knock-on effect of inmates using the gym, in addition to improving fitness, is that some have continued their exercise regime after being released from the prison. One ex-inmate was even hired as a personal trainer.
“The gym is very important in terms of the aspect of the rehabilitation process, where we try to cater for inmates holistically,” Mitchell said. “I recall an inmate who was here and he started out in the gym and…he was able to work at [a local] gym. So, he is a good example coming out of this gym.”
However, Mitchell said the gym offers more than just a way to get fit.
“It is a great environment for them to relax and relieve some stress,” he said, noting that around 60 prisoners visit the gym daily, some of whom struggle with self-esteem and weight issues.
“The gym builds self-esteem,” Mitchell said. “One inmate who is still here, came in weighing over 300 pounds… and he had the interest to lose weight and we helped by providing programmes and encouragement.
“Though the prison has limited resources, he pulled through and he [now weighs] over 100 pounds less than when he came, and there’s other inmates like that as well.”
Healthy competition
Mitchell said while they have a record of healthy attendance each day at the fitness facility, he and his team are planning to implement some incentives for more inmates to get involved.
“An internal weightlifting competition is something that we thought about,” he said. “We do have guys inside here who can compete and give persons on the outside a good run for their money because they are willing to put in the effort and they do get results.
“So yes, we are in talks internally to try and see how we can get this off the ground because this will encourage more inmates to be involved with the gym.”
The renovations at the Northward Prison gym were made possible by donations from World Gym, Lift Studio, Handel Whittaker, Andre Morgan and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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