Learning Matters e-news
February 2014
This month we feature an important new report from UCU about the experiences of prison educators as well as information about a new project in Doncaster, which has been successfully working with prisoner learners with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Keep reading to find out more, including learner voice articles and all the latest news in criminal justice. Next month will see the celebration of International Women's Day throughout the world. If you have inspiring stories about women or women only events then get in touch to let us know. Contact us at lm@prisonerseducation.org.uk if you want to be in next month's edition or have any feedback. Prisoners can write to us at: FREEPOST: PRISONERS EDUCATION TRUST.
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This month a joint report by UCU and the IoE, based on survey responses from 278 prison educators was launched and welcomed with a press release from the PLA. The report makes recommendations for improved CPD and improved access to ICT. If you would like to see better access to ICT for prison teachers and learners, The Education and Training Foundation are inviting your views here. This month IfL has announced a new teacher award for VQ Day. For information on the nomination process, click here
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This month the government announced reforms to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will finally go ahead on 10th March. Keeping on the theme of employability, PET also delivered a workshop at the 'No Offence, Recruit with Conviction Conference'. To read about the five key themes for increasing the employment of prisoners discussed at the conference click here
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A pilot project delivered by The Cascade Foundation in HMP Doncaster has been achieving good results with prisoners with learning difficulties. PET attended a celebratory event and awards ceremony, which you can read more about here. Also published this month is a practical guide for staff working with people with learning difficulties in custody or the community.
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Arts news
New resources are available for Youth Justice practitioners through the Arts Award; a range of unique accredited qualifications for young people up to 25 with SFA funding available for some courses. English PEN announced the winners of their third annual prison writing competition, Running to Stand Still. Lastly, The Koestler Trust is advertising for a researcher to evaluate their Arts Gateway Mentoring project; more details here.
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Learner Voice
This month PET alumni member Francis Osei-Appiah, an ex-prisoner who has gone on to work with young people at risk of offending, tells us his story and how engaging with education changed his life. With Valentines Day on our minds, we also hear Gemma's story, about the difficulties in sustaining a relationship with her partner in prison over a number of years. This issue could easily be solved through technology, as argued in our Through the Gateway report.
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This year is PET's 25th anniversary and so this month, we went back to our roots with a visit to HMP Wandsworth, where PET was founded. We visited the Prison Museum, which unfortunately is at risk of closure. Read on for more interesting information about the museum and what you may be able to do to help save it.
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In January, the Prisoner Learning Alliance met for its sixth meeting at HMP Brixton. Members heard from prison learners from Bad Boys Bakery and Governor Ed Tullet spoke about some of the challenges and opportunities in delivering learning at HMP Brixton. Click here to find out more about the work of the PLA and here for a summary of the meeting.
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NEWS: Court of Appeal upholds principle of whole-life prison terms. BBC News, 18th February 2014.
NEWS: 'Drugs, filth, not enough guards': Ministers told to consider closing Pentonville Prison. London Evening Standard, 18th February 2014.
NEWS: Can outsourcing probation services cut re-offending rates? BBC News, 18th February 2014.
NEWS: Programme to bring college courses to NY prisons. WMBF news, 17th February 2014.
NEWS: Rising numbers of jail inmates in police cells. Daily Mail, 13th February 2014.
NEWS: Kosal Khiev's journey from prison to poetry. BBC News, 10th February 2014.
NEWS: Government to review young deaths in custody. BBC News, 6th February 2014.
NEWS: Comment: Deaths in custody review should look at all prisoners, take it from an ex-con. Guardian, February 7th 2014.
EVENT: Write to be heard: Practice Sharing Events. Arts Alliance. FREE. Events taking place in London and Manchester in March.
EVENT: Best practice in contracts and partnering for Transforming Rehabilitation conference. No Offence, 19th March, Derby.
EVENT: Finding the best pathways to employment for ethnic minority job-seekers. Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion and Black Training and Enterprise Group. 3rd April, 2014, Amnesty International, London.
EVENT: Human rights in prisons in the UK and Europe. What would the highest standards look like? Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, June 27th 2014, HMP Grendon. |
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