The Cayman Islands Football Association (“CIFA”) and Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service (“HMCIPS”) officially launched a partnership in sport on Thursday, 4th May 2017 at HMP Northward.

The partnership will allow prisoners to acquire internationally accepted qualifications in refereeing and coaching, as well as improve their playing skills under the tutelage of CIFA volunteers. In exchange, prisoners at HMP Northward have been hard at work producing much needed benches and picnic tables to furnish the CIFA Centre for Excellence in Prospect.

Prison Director Neil Lavis presented CIFA President Lee Ramoon with the first examples of the prison-built furniture as CIFA took the opportunity to deliver football equipment to the prison and tour the prison’s sporting facilities.

Participating prisoners will be screened to ensure they satisfy local requirements for membership as CIFA referees or coaches, and then undergo a sixteen week training program delivered by CIFA-approved coaches and referees. Following successful completion of the training program, prisoners will receive First Aid and child abuse prevention certifications before accessing CONCACAF and FIFA licensing opportunities.

The program is intended to provide eligible prisoners with transferable skills that will contribute to their re-integration into the community.

The first training period begins in June 2017 with up to 15 current inmates.