Reader-In-Residence Project (Prison Learning)

Reader-In-Residence Project

Partnership project based at

HMP & YOI Cornton Vale, HMP Perth Prison, HMP Polmont YOI

Funded by The Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Partnership

• Stirling Council

• Scottish Prison Service

• Carnegie College

• Scottish Book Trust

Aims

• To promote creative reading within the prison

• To develop reading amongst the women and their families

• To promote use of the library

• Create links between the women and community libraries

• Author visit

Overall Context

• Activities are offered in a non-formal manner

• Anybody can join the different activities

• Used drama exercises and techniques

Activity – Library Drop-inActivity – Library Drop-in

• The drop-in was to encourage those that were not very confident to visit the library and give some support choosing a book.

• The library drop-in evolved into the Learner Champions Group.

• Learner Champions Group - Working within education and the library to promote the library through writing book reviews and creating promotional material.

Outline: Students make a sack for a child within their family.

Theme

TimelineStory Sack Objectives: • To enhances basic literacy skills of parent and

child• Maintain vital contact between parent and child

Activity : Story-Sacks ProjectActivity : Story-Sacks Project

Story-Sacks exampleActivity: Acrostic Poem

CCute and cuddly,ute and cuddly,AAlways in a rush,lways in a rush,TTakes her teddy everywhere,akes her teddy everywhere,HHas a smile like the sunas a smile like the sunYYes that’s my little Cathy, full of es that’s my little Cathy, full of fun.fun.

Story-Sacks Images

Story-Sacks Images

Story-Sacks Images

Activity: Friday’s Book GroupActivity: Friday’s Book Group

Outline

Multiple books are ordered and the learners read a book over three weeks.

Different genres and authors are explored.

Objectives

• To encourage more prisoners to read books• To extend the enjoyment prisoners get from books• To encourage prisoners to extend the type of books they read.

Multiple Copies are bought or borrowed from Stirling Libraries • Margaret Thomson Davis A Deadly Deception• Isla Dewar Two Kinds of Wonderful• Laura Marney Only Strange People Go

To Church• Jessie Kesson The White Bird Passes• Mark Johnson Wasted• Jess Smith Bruar’s Rest• William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet• Lin Anderson Blood Red Roses• Lionel Shriver We Need to Talk About

Kevin• Tsutsui Yasutaka Salmonella Men on Planet

Porno

Some Author Visits

• Margaret Thomson DavisLive Literature Scotland• Laura Marney Live Literature Scotland• Jess Smith Live Literature Scotland• Lesley Pearse• Alex Gray Live Literature Scotland• Alan Bissett Live Literature Scotland• Mark Thomson Live Literature Scotland• Lin Anderson Live Literature Scotland• Janet Paisley Live Literature Scotland• Millie Gray Live Literature Scotland

FRIDAY BOOK GROUP Outcomes

• The power of reading a book as a group. Long term members have remained consistent.

• Improving skills in reading for oneself as well as public reading

• There are so many benefits relating to the women’s personal development by joining reading activities.

Activity: Diary CornerDiary Corner

Outline: A new group that began in January ’08. The learners come together to put down their thoughts in their own diary over a cup of coffee.

Objectives• Promote personal development by providing the

opportunity to put down individual thoughts and feelings within a safe environment

• Promote skills in reflection and goal setting.

Activity: Movie Discussion Movie Discussion GroupGroup

Outline:

An evening activity where learners explore different genre of films such as horror, romantic comedies, westerns and animation.

One film is shown over two sessions with plenty of chance to discuss plot, characters and film technique.

Opportunity to discuss range of issues and themes covered by different films.

Some Recent Films

• Planet of the Apes• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof• Burn After Reading• Elf• Wallace and Gromit

Activity: Exploring Poetry

Outline:

Many of the inmates write poetry but have never read it or heard it spoken aloud. As a group, many different writers and genres of poetry are looked at.

Objectives:

• To look at works of published poets to help with writing poems.

• To have opinions and share them.

Poets/Genres Looked At

• Robert Burns

• William McGonagall

• Angus Campbell

• Wilfred Owen

• War

• Love

• National identity

Activity: Quick Reads Book Group

Outline:

There are many emerging readers in the prison and many are intimidated or do not have the patience to read larger books.

Outcomes:

• Some people have finished their first ever book.

• Not just restricted the reading to books, but used newspapers and plays as well.

Other Activities

• Create

• Skipping Christmas

• Mardi Gras

• One-to-one sessions with people writing their own stories to offer support

• Collaboration with the publisher Barrington Stoke to provide readers for books going through the editing process

Additional Activities 2009

• Room with a View

• StoryBook Mums

• Scottish History

• Storytelling Classes

• Comic Life Class

Cornton Vale Cook Book

OutlineTo create a cook book using recipes gathered from the girls themselves, staff and prison officers. Also by looking at budgets, hygiene and diet

Outcomes• Promote healthy eating• Improve literacy and numeracy skills• Encourage cooking for kids

Roll out

• Impact of project

• Role of different partners

• Challenges

• Hopes for the future

Liz MoffatCommunity Outreach Librarian

01786 432391moffatl@stirling.gov.uk

Richard Smith

Reader in Residence

01786 432391

Smithr@stirling.gov.uk