AN EDUCATIONAL facility in Princetown at Dartmoor Prison for staff, their families and the outside community is going from 'strength to strength' after its opening three years ago.

The Union Learning Centre is directly linked to the Prison Officers Association (POA), and provides free learning, skills and development opportunities for all staff, their families as well as the isolated community.

The facility, funded by Union Learn although open to non-union staff,, was opened in April 2010 and since its inception has achieved more than 800 'learner starts' from both staff and the local community to help them improve and acquire new skills to improve their work prospects.  

Andy Harding, the centre's manager, said: 'The HMP Dartmoor POA Learning Centre has has been built on a partnership approach with POA Learning at HMP Dartmoor as well as the very supportive prison governor Terry Witton and his management team.

'The POA Union Learning Centre offers high quality, accredited training, qualifications and transferrable skills in a whole host of areas such as literacy, numeracy, languages, ICT (at all levels), Open University courses, mental health awareness, equality and diversity and employability skills to name but a few.

'In today's uncertain labour market it certainly pays to get recognised qualifications under your belt.'

Many other POA Union Learning Centres operate in the country with Dartmoor in the South West the most western. The centre works in partnership with the High Moorland Centre in Princetown and the Devon Environmental Business Initiative.

Many farmers on the moors have used the facility to brush up on IT skills, essential to their business.

The governor of HMP Dartmoor Terry Witton told the Times: 'The POA Union Learning Centre has been a very successful project over the past three years. 

'Staff interest in their own personal development and the learning opportunities offered via POA Learning has grown immensely, which benefits staff in their respective professional roles as well as their own personal development. 

'I am also delighted that community interest in the project continues to evolve.'