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Football club helping prisoners deal with release

A mentoring scheme run by a Premier League football club is changing the lives of prisoners as they are released, an inmate has said.

Saints Restart is run by Southampton FC's charity arm - the Saints Foundation - to reduce reoffending rates for prisoners leaving HMP Winchester through advice and physical activity sessions.

On a visit to the prison, Southampton manager Russell Martin said it was helping prisoners "reintegrate into the community".

One of the 70 inmates involved said: "Without it there would be a lot of people struggling."

A sign with the words HMP/YOI Winchester in white text on a blue background, in front of the large brick perimeter wall of the prison.
A sign with the words HMP/YOI Winchester in white text on a blue background, in front of the large brick perimeter wall of the prison.