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Lags at Birmingham Prison are being helped back on the straight and narrow by singing like birds – while doing bird.

And the prisoners have proved dab hands at keeping four beats to the bars in front of a very captive audience.

But, then, they know all about keeping time.

The singing sessions take place every week with the aim of instilling confidence and teamwork – vital qualities for inmates preparing for life outside.

And the two-hour singalongs have been so successful, they are soon to be rolled out to HMP Featherstone and Brinsford Young Offenders Institute.

Beating Time, the charity behind the noteworthy initiative, says there has been a real rush to join the custodial concerts.

Surprisingly, DISNEY songs such as Frozen show-stopper Let It Go are the most popular among the prison’s population.

(Image: Collect)

And one criminal has been so moved by the experience that he’s penned a musical himself, titled Prison.

“I have been to the sessions and they are incredibly uplifting,” says Vikki Scott from Beating Time.

“Those taking part do a mixture of everything, from choral work to musicals, and the sessions work on team-building and giving them a sense of community.

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“They’ve told me it’s the highlight of their week. They’ve learned new skills – and we’ve discovered some very fine voices.”

Beating Time is also behind the Choir With No Name, a network of singing groups for the homeless.

The charity, launched two years ago, has worked with 300 prisoners, many of whom have joined choral societies upon their release.

Beating Time chief executive Heather Phillips explains: “Singing groups are perfect communities, bringing together a diverse group of people to achieve things that are beyond us as individuals.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

“Our mission is to create meaningful change by acting as a vehicle to show employers the potential and work ethic of many prisoners, and rehabilitate members through this group participation. “Ultimately we want to develop a fast and effective route to work. Our focus is enabling the many people in our jails who want to work, to secure long-term employment and rehabilitation on their release.”

To that end, Beating Time bosses Heather and Jane Evans have teamed up with Blue Sky, a charity that connects commercial contracts with ex-offenders.

As a result, a ground-breaking careers convention took place at Birmingham nick last November, with big city employers such as Royal Mail, East End Foods, BHSF, Pinsent Masons and KPMG going behind bars. It resulted in a collective of local employers exploring offering ex-offenders jobs following their release.

Vikki adds: “Re-offending is on the increase and is estimated to cost the UK as much as £13 billion a year. England and Wales release 90,000 prisoners per year and for those serving sentences under 12 months, 60 per cent will go on to re-offend in the year after release.

“Stable employment reduces the probability of re-offending by up to 50 per cent, but three-quarters of prisoners have no job to go to once they get out.”

Best-cellers they could sing!

Jailhouse Rock – Elvis

Working On The Chain Gang – Sam Cooke

Back On The Chain Gang – The Pretenders

Good Morning Judge – 10cc

I Fought The Law – The Clash

Jailbreak – Thin Lizzy

Band On The Run – Wings

I Want To Break Free – Queen

Crime Of The Century – Supertramp

Can I Get A Witness – Marvin Gaye