As the proud coordinator of the M4Pris project – Peer Mentoring Programme for Prison Staff project, we at BrainLog recently participated in a powerful and inspiring Learning, Training, and Teaching Activity (LTTA), held from the 6th to the 8th of May 2025. This training was organized by our dedicated Portuguese partner, Aproximar, and hosted within the unique environment of Leiria Youth Prison.

The LTTA brought together 24 participants from seven partner organizations across Europe. Together, we explored new dimensions of peer mentoring, shared national insights, and worked to strengthen the professional and emotional support systems for prison staff across the continent.

As coordinator, BrainLog participated together with the exceptional team representing Fængselsforbundet – the Danish Prison Officers Union, including its President Bo Yde Sørensen, PR Manager Søren Gregersen, journalist Sille Augustinussen, and Regional joint trustee Nina Odgaard. [M(1] Their presence added great value to our learning process, grounding our work in real-world perspectives from correctional institutions.

Alongside BrainLog team and our hosts from Aproximar, the LTTA welcomed contributions from:

• Athens Lifelong Learning Institute (Greece)
• APROXIMAR Cooperativa de Solidariedade Social
• KU Leuven (Belgium – online)
• Danish Prison Officers Union (Denmark)
• BrainLog (Denmark)
• SNPP – Sindicatul National al Politistilor si Personalului Contractual din MAI (Romania)
• Asociatia Vis Juventum (Romania)

The energy in the room was exciting – each partner bringing unique experience, methodologies, and cultural insights to the table. It was a true showcase of what European cooperation can achieve.

Our time in Leiria began with a warm welcome from Aproximar and the Director of Leiria Youth Prison, Joana Patuleia. Participants were given an overview of the M4Pris project’s current stage and a clear roadmap for the training days ahead.

One of the early highlights was a presentation by Peter De Cuyper (University KU Leuven) who participated online, sharing the key findings from the project’s Blueprint on Prison Staff Mentoring. This theoretical foundation provided an important backdrop for the hands-on sessions to follow.

Through interactive national working groups, we reflected on the diverse contexts in which mentoring is being piloted. It became clear how adaptable – and yet how necessary – peer mentoring is for the professional well-being of prison staff.

The second day focused on real-world implementation. Our Romanian partner Dorin Muresan from Vis Juventum led a session on how to coordinate mentoring programmes within the prison setting, complemented by open exchanges of national piloting experiences conducted under WP3. These were some of the most meaningful moments, as participants openly discussed challenges, adaptations, and emerging successes.

Youth Prison Leiria
We also had the opportunity to take a guided tour of Leiria Youth Prison, witnessing first-hand the spaces in which peer mentoring in Portugal is taking root. Leiria Prison is designated for young adult inmates aged 16 to 21, with the option to remain until 25. As a result, significant investments have been made in education and vocational training, including the construction of a dedicated school building and a vocational training pavilion.

The final day opened with an insightful guest presentation on mental health in prison settings presented by Ana Rita Pires from IPS: Innovative Prison System. What should you do if you notice signs of stress/burnout in your colleagues? Following that, discussions turned toward the fact that when leaders foster trust, provide clear guidance, and create supportive work environments, they reduce stress and burnout and contribute to greater job satisfaction overall.

The LTTA in Leiria was more than a training session – it was a milestone in the M4Pris journey. It fostered a cooperative space where knowledge, experience, and passion for positive change in prison systems could succeed. At BrainLog, we are deeply proud to coordinate a project that is reshaping how prison staff support one another and contributing to safer, more human-centered correctional environments across Europe.

Stay tuned as we continue to build and expand the peer mentoring model – with dedication, heart, and shared European commitment.