For Children

Bling It On

ROWA! has worked with Desq, an innovative software development company, using Eeols, NIACE managed, funding to develop a piece of software to engage offender learners and their families. This software has been developed with the input of prisons and probation services, piloted in these settings and is now freely available.

It is called "Bling it on" and is aimed at families; suitable for adult learners at Entry Level 3 and Level 1 and children in KS2. It has proved successful particularly in engaging men and boys in introductory learning activities that can then be developed into longer learning programmes.

Currently it is being used in ROWA!'s East Midlands Offender Learning project in which we are linking with regional FLLN Managers to deliver FLLN programmes to offender learners and their families in prison and in probation settings.

The Bling It On website was created to provide prisons, probation, Local Authorities, community and voluntary sector organisations access to the software. But there’s no reasons why anyone can’t play the game.

The game was designed to hook reluctant offender learners and their families into a ‘first step to learning’ and should appeal to adult learners and their children alike. The subject matter of driving cars was chosen to appeal to male learners/carers in particular. It’s been piloted in prisons initially using the ROWA Learning bus with offender learners and their families. Initial feedback has been promising!

Bling it was made possible by a NIACE LSC funded programme that aims to promote the innovative use of e-learning to those delivering learning and skills to offenders. Through this project funding, research and the transfer of established initiatives, NIACE is aiming to embed e-learning into offender learning and skills delivery in England.

If you feel that a learning game approach might be suitable for your organisation, please contact DESQ.

Download Bling It On Now >>>