Links

Education help and support

Department for Education and Skills

www.dfes.gov.uk

The Foundation Training Company (FTC)

www.foundation-training.org

FTC is a not for profit organisation that specialises in crime reduction through resettlement and reintegration of offenders. FTC works in prisons delivering bespoke programmes aimed at reducing re-offending by providing information, advice & guidance, liaison with community based agencies and training packages focused on providing realistic opportunities post release.

National Literacy Trust, Prisons Reading Initiative

www.literacytrust.org.uk/campaign/prisons.html

The Open University

www.open.ac.uk

Prisoners' Education Trust (PET)

www.prisonerseducation.org.uk

PET aims to extend and enrich the range of education and training available to people in prison by meeting the fees for academic and vocational distance learning courses,college and vocational courses for those nearing the end of their sentence and able to leave prison during the day, and art & craft materials. The Trust only meets fees for courses which are outside the normal remit of the prison service.

Shannon Trust

www.shannontrust.com

The Shannon Trust is a charity devoted to the development of literacy in our prisons through peer to peer mentoring. The charity encourages prisons to develop mentor teams of inmates, who run daily one-on-one lessons for illiterate fellow prisoners.

The Prisoner Funder Directory

www.thebromleytrust.org.uk/documents/The_Prisoner_Funder_Directory.pdf

The Hardman Trust, in association with the Prisoner Funder Forum and supported by The Bromley Trust, has compiled a list of funders who may support prisoners' education, as well as other work in prisons. The Prisoner Funder Directory lists funders who provide financial support to individual prisoners, people in secure mental units and ex-offenders.

Prisoner support and campaigning organisations

CLINKS

www.clinks.org

CLINKS is a membership body that supports and develops the work that voluntary organisations (NGOs) undertake within the Criminal Justice system in England and Wales, maintaining a national database of voluntary and community organisations providing services to offenders and their families.

HM Prison Service

www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk

The official site of the Prison Service, this site contains contains contact information for all prisons in the UK, an excellent links section, and information about prison regulation.

Howard League for Penal Reform

www.howardleague.org

The oldest penal reform charity in the UK, the Howard League runs several campaigns including Real Work in Prison.

NACRO

www.nacro.org.uk

NACRO aims to build a safer society and reduce crime through a variety of projects and services, directed primarily at ex-offenders, providing assistance in training, job-seeking and housing.

St Giles Trust

www.stgilestrust.org.uk

St Giles aims to reduce crime and social exclusion. They believe that the people they help can be part of the solution to crime and offending, running programmes in prisons and in the community.

Prison Advice and Care Trust (pact)

www.prisonadvice.org.uk

Working at prisons and in communities across Greater London, in Devon & Cornwall and in Milton Keynes (HMP Woodhill), services include pact child-friendly centres, resettlement projects, first night projects, and some family support.

Prison Libraries Group (PRLG)

www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/prison

The PRLG serves the interest of all members concerned with the provision of library services to prison communities, committed to improving the quality of the service whilst raising the profile of prison libraries, sharing and developing ideas through training and publications, and to be of benefit and support to all members concerned with library services to prisoners, prison and education staff.

Prison Reform Trust (PRT)

hwww.prisonreformtrust.org.uk

The work of PRT is aimed at creating a just, humane and effective penal system through research, campaigning, and providing information advice and information to prisoners and their families.

Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS)

www.prisonersadviceservice.org.uk

PAS is a charitable organisation providing free and confidential legal advice regarding prison law to prisoners, their families and representatives.

Inside Time

www.insidetime.org.uk

A monthly national newspaper for prisoners.

Action for Prisoners' Families

www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk

UNLOCK

unlock.org.uk

UNLOCK, the National Association of Ex-offenders, supports ex-offenders and serving prisoners to overcome social and financial exclusion, and plan for life after release.

Women in Prison

www.womeninprison.org.uk

Women in Prison is a charity dedicated to making a difference to women at risk, both in custody and leaving custody. WIP works to promote their resettlement, personal development, education and training. WIP educate the public and policy makers about women in the criminal justice system and promote alternatives to custody.