From Chaplain to Head of Faith & Pastoral Care at a UK prison: Haroon Shafiq’s career journey

Haroon Shafiq is the Head of Faith & Pastoral Care at HMP Oakwood. This is a senior management role at the UK's largest prison. He also runs the prisoner-led Oakwood Media and Project Unite and is a member of the Diversity Inclusion Councils for both G4S UK and G4S International.

Haroon’s career journey up to today has not followed a linear path. He explained: “There wasn’t a natural ladder for me to climb to the Senior Management position I am in now. But G4S enabled me to go sideways and around a few bends to get to where I am now. They saw my talents and gave me opportunities to grow.”

Haroon’s work at HMP Oakwood began in 2012 when he was appointed Muslim Chaplain for the prison. He says: “I always had a passion for working in an environment where I can support vulnerable people, especially people who are disadvantaged and disenfranchised in society generally. Before I joined the Prison Chaplaincy I did some work in my local community, for the local council and for charities.”

His enthusiasm for his job is tangible. “I like big, I like busy!” he says, although compassion is clearly his strong driving force. “You have to be passionate to work in a custodial environment,” he maintains. “You've got to have the desire to make a difference. Every day when I go into work, I have the mindset ‘today I will help somebody’.”

Outside his worth as a faith leader, Haroon helps prisoners develop their multimedia skills and find work experience opportunities. He explained: “Today prisoners are learning multimedia skills and video editing, gaining experience and building portfolios to help them secure employment when they leave prison. It's taken off really well. It's very positive, very productive. And it's created a real buzz at Oakwood. We’re even doing things like podcasts.”

Diversity among the prison workforce

As a member of the Diversity Inclusion Councils for both G4S UK and G4S International, Haroon is well-placed to observe and comment on the range of diversity among his colleagues. He acknowledged: “Historically people thought prison officers were white, bald men, with tattoos. There are still some people who look like that, and they’re great, but we also have female prison officers and people of every colour. Everyone is valued.”

Diversity is also evidenced across the prison population. Haroon said: “We have all of the world's major faiths represented here. Our biggest faith is actually no faith. But our doors are always open to provide emotional and spiritual support regardless of faith.”

Haroon is proud of the positive approach to diversity across the prison. He recalled a conversation he recently had with someone who had attended a job interview and said: ““I interviewed someone for a job who told me I had inspired him. He said to me that when he saw my photo on the Senior Management Board, he knew that he could also have a good career here. If I had reached a senior position, then he as a man of colour, could also achieve the same.”