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Sally Anderson, deputy mayor of Northallerton, with some of the young people involved in the project

AN exhibition showing the heritage of a jail, which is now home to a young offenders' institution, has gone on display.

The display examines the history of the former Northallerton Gaol and is on show in the town's records office this month. It will then go on a tour of libraries in the area.

The exhibition was launched last week at a presentation day attended by Northallerton's deputy mayor, Coun Sally Anderson.

It is the work of a group of inmates from the young offenders' institution.

They were given the task of researching the history of the jail and putting together the exhibition display boards as part of the institution's young offender education programme.

Programme leader April Stephenson said: "Our aim is to help young people rebuild their self-confidence and learn new skills that will help them to find jobs and get their lives back on track when they leave us.

"The ten students who tackled this project had no experience of doing anything like it. They used books from the prison library, newspaper clippings, an Army charge book and archived material from Northallerton records office to research the history of the prison, then worked as a team to design the display boards using desktop publishing and image manipulation software.

"They all lacked confidence in their abilities at first and, although a couple dropped out, seven successfully completed the four-week project and at the launch event they all stood up and presented their work to the gathered dignitaries."

The project was accredited by National Open College Network, meaning the students have all been rewarded for their efforts by receiving nationally-recognised qualifications for presentation skills and rights and responsibilities that they can show to prospective employers.

The exhibition, entitled Changes in Society, looks at how the prison system has changed over the 19th and 20th centuries.

Northallerton House of Correction was built in 1783 and at one time had the world's largest treadmill, which was used by inmates sentenced to hard labour.

4:36pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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