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UNLOCKING

THE

POTENTIAL

OF PEOPLE WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

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Project funded by;

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The Unlocking Potential Podcast

 The Unlocking Potential Documentary

KickStart Scholarships

Project Toolkit

Blog

In the Press 

About

About the project

Unlocking Potential is a research policy project led by Maynooth University Access Programme and the MU School of Law and Criminology in collaboration with Mi:Lab – the MU Innovation Lab, the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Probation Service, the Pathways Centre for Prisoners and Former Prisoners (City of Dublin Education and Training Board) and the Irish Penal Reform Trust.  

 

It is well evidenced that people with criminal convictions are disproportionately drawn from groups which are under-represented in higher education. The objective of our project is to increase access to higher education for people with convictions. Harnessing the transformative power of education, the goal of Unlocking Potential is to build the diversity of the third level student population whilst supporting the reintegration of people with convictions, prisoners and former prisoners in our society.

 

We will do this by:  

Toolkit

Creating a ‘Fair Admissions Toolkit’ to help universities and colleges to develop their approach to applicants with convictions  

Promoting

Promoting a common approach to applicants with convictions across the higher education sector 

Celebrating

Celebrating the achievements of graduates with convictions 

Discussing

Starting a conversation about the role of higher education in supporting fairer, safer communities

The Unlocking Potential Documentary

Unlocking Potential

Director: Matt Leigh
Producer: Nodlag Houlihan

 Zucca Productions

This short film highlights the transformative power of Higher Education for people with previous convictions. Paula, Wayne, Joe and James tell their story.
 
Director: Matt Leigh

Producer: Nodlag Houlihan

Contributors;

Wayne Hart

Paula Kearney

Joe Clarke

James Bowes

Eddie Mullins (Irish Prison Service), 

Ivana Bacik (TD, TCD)

Katherine Lloyd-Clark (University of Exeter)

 

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Documentary
Contact
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