New £1.8m Literacy Drive Set to Cut Crime in Prisons
Prisoners across the UK are about to get a serious boost in reading and writing skills thanks to a £1.8 million two-year pilot scheme. The initiative aims to transform literacy behind bars and slash reoffending rates by helping inmates get ready for work on the outside.
Prisons Plagued by Poor Reading Skills
- Fewer than half of adult male prisoners can read at an 11-year-old’s level.
- Low literacy traps offenders in a cycle of crime and unemployment.
The Shannon Trust and the National Literacy Trust have joined forces to roll out new programmes. The Shannon Trust will recruit full-time staff to expand prisoner-to-prisoner reading support in nine jails. Meanwhile, the National Literacy Trust will run monthly reading groups and creative writing sessions in six prisons, targeting those with higher literacy skills to build confidence and inspire change.
Government Backs Literacy as Crime Buster
“Evidence shows that being able to read and write to a decent standard after prison can make all the difference between a positive, law-abiding life or a return to crime,” said Prisons and Probation Minister Damian Hinds.
“From plotting a route to work or training, to paying the bills or shopping for food – these skills are crucial in keeping prisoners on the straight and narrow and the public safe.”
The Literacy Innovation Fund supports the government’s broader Prisons Strategy White Paper. It covers 15 prisons and will feed vital insights into building a new Prisoner Education Service designed to upskill prisoners, improve literacy and numeracy, and boost job prospects.
Charities and Experts Welcome Fresh Funding
Rebecca Perry, Head of Adult Literacy and Criminal Justice at the National Literacy Trust, added: “We believe reading and writing for enjoyment has the power to transform a person’s relationship with literacy. We’re thrilled the Literacy Innovation Fund will let us expand this vital work.”
Karen Ryan, Director of Prison Delivery at the Shannon Trust, said: “Learning to read transforms lives, strengthening family bonds, increasing chances of education and work, and ultimately reducing reoffending.”
This boost comes as the Prison Service hires up to 100 full-time Heads of Education, Skills and Work to oversee learning across jails. These experts will design curricula, ensure Ofsted standards, and link with businesses to address skill gaps.
The government is backing this with £550 million over three years to help offenders kick drugs, secure stable homes, and train for employment, aiming to keep communities safer once prison doors open.
