The National Literacy Trust’s Books Unlocked programme has supported prisoners and young offenders to engage with literature since 2012. This qualitative evaluation provides an insight into the power of books to help people feel, think, learn and change.
Complementing initiatives for emerging readers in secure settings, Books Unlocked works with prison and young offender institution (YOI) reading groups to increase enjoyment and frequency of reading.
Feedback about the programme was received from seven settings (HMYOI Aylesbury, HMP Birmingham, HMP Bullingdon, HMP Erlestoke, HMP Hewell, HMP Lewes and HMP Thameside) between July and September 2015. Comments from participants included “[i]t rekindled my love of reading.”