A story of rehabilitation of every kind.
18 homing pigeons rescued by the RSPCA are now being cared for by women at HMP/YOI Foston Hall.
Women at the prison help to care for the birds and maintain the pigeon loft as part of an animal care course, run by the prisonâs education provider.
The Welsh Affairs Committee has joined the broad range of voices calling for cuts to prison education in English prisons to be reversed.
We gave evidence to this inquiry and itâs good to see our key points echoed in the report.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/16...
Good to see that education at Downview has been rated 'good' by Ofsted, in a broadly positive report.
This follows a positive report a couple of months ago on Low Newton and an encouraging update from HMIP on the women's estate generally (bit.ly/4dQgXJi).
committees.parliament.uk
Population pressures, staffing challenges and overcrowding have undermined staff and prisoner safety and the effectiveness of rehabilitation across the prison estate in England and Wales, the Welsh Af...
New research from Working Chance shows that more than half of HR leaders do not feel confident recruiting and supporting people with convictions.
That needs to change: work is one of the best ways of preventing people from returning to the criminal justice system.
https://ow.ly/7hHT50YVbNV
Really encouraging @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social report on HMP Wayland today. They've gone from 'poor' to 'reasonably good' on purposeful activity, which is impressive progress, and been rated as 'good' overall by Ofsted.
hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_repo...
Jon Collins
Jon Collins
We've answered 89 calls in two weeks on our Advice Line - our busiest fortnight ever!
A huge thank you to our inspiring team of advisers who have been giving people advice and guidance on studying in prison since the free service launched in 2020.
Many people in prison struggle to read, impacting their ability to navigate daily life.
If you work in a prison and want to find out how you can champion and support reading, sign up to this event in June to hear from expert voices as part of the National Year of Reading 2026.
In this interview focused on a visit to HMP Styal, the prisons minister Lord Timpson rightly notes that education helps people get a job.
But education at Styal has just been cut by 30%. Given the cost of reoffending this is the very definition of a false economy.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
"Prison teachers operate at the intersection of education, rehabilitation and the justice system, yet their voices are rarely central to discussions about reform."
This is well worth a read - written by a prison tutor who is conducting research that explores the experience of prison educators.
Prisoners' Education Trust
We love this: the debut publication from prison reading campaign Bang Up Books, in collaboration with Koestler Arts.
All the writing comes from prisons in England and Wales. Better still, profits go to the Samaritans to support their work in prisons - get your copy here đ
https://ow.ly/xP1g50YV8IE
On a stroll around Styal jail in Cheshire, the prisons minister discusses jobs for ex-offenders, support for women inmates and why he has no political ambitions
HMP & YOI Downview: safe and well run, but more needed to help women progress.
Read the report: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris_repo...
And press notice: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/news/reports...
See the healthy prison scores:
Eighteen pigeons were rescued by the RSPCA after their previous owners could no longer care for them. Now theyâre enjoying a new life behind bars â in a prison, where theyâre free to fly.
