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27/03/2023
Prisoners Act As Guide Runners At Magilligan Parkrun
Staff and prisoners from Magilligan Prison have became guide runners for visually impaired participants at the prison's weekly Parkrun event.
After several weeks of training with members of the Royal Institute for the Blind Northern Ireland (RIBNI), the guides and their partially sighted runners successfully completed the 5k event within the grounds of the prison near Limavady.
Alan Platt, Deputy Governor and an active Parkrunner: said: "A number of our staff and prisoners trained for several weeks to become guide runners, using blindfolds and SIM specs to prepare them for the event itself. It's been fun and informative, they have responded brilliantly and invested in the project. They're excited today to be participating.
Governor Platt continued: "This is all about supporting and challenging people in our care, to encourage self-esteem, physical and mental wellbeing throughout the journey of rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community."
Visually impaired runner Tony Barclay said: "Offering to be a guide runner for someone with sight loss can be an extremely rewarding past time. As someone who is seriously visually impaired, sharing the joy of running with some prisoners and staff in Magilligan just brought a whole new level to the experience.
"Hopefully the prisoners will get something positive from this and perhaps when they are released and reintegrate in to society they will continue to help other visually impaired people."
After several weeks of training with members of the Royal Institute for the Blind Northern Ireland (RIBNI), the guides and their partially sighted runners successfully completed the 5k event within the grounds of the prison near Limavady.
Alan Platt, Deputy Governor and an active Parkrunner: said: "A number of our staff and prisoners trained for several weeks to become guide runners, using blindfolds and SIM specs to prepare them for the event itself. It's been fun and informative, they have responded brilliantly and invested in the project. They're excited today to be participating.
Governor Platt continued: "This is all about supporting and challenging people in our care, to encourage self-esteem, physical and mental wellbeing throughout the journey of rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community."
Visually impaired runner Tony Barclay said: "Offering to be a guide runner for someone with sight loss can be an extremely rewarding past time. As someone who is seriously visually impaired, sharing the joy of running with some prisoners and staff in Magilligan just brought a whole new level to the experience.
"Hopefully the prisoners will get something positive from this and perhaps when they are released and reintegrate in to society they will continue to help other visually impaired people."
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
