Jon Collins

Nice to read about something positive in the prison system - the work of @libertychoiruk.bsky.social!

Text of a recommendation on increasing access to education and training in prison.

Good to see this recommendation on increasing access to education and training in today’s Justice Select Committee report on drugs in prison.

committees.parliament.uk/committee/10...

MPs to examine education and employment opportunities for Welsh prisoners MPs are set to examine education and employment opportunities for Welsh prisoners at a meeting in the Palace of Westminster.

I'm looking forward to giving evidence to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee on prison education in Wales this afternoon, with @stgilestrust.bsky.social and Estyn . Lots to cover, including funding, breadth of provision and digital learning.

www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/2557747...

With the publication of the ‘Just passing time’ thematic review, Chief Inspector, Charlie Taylor, outlines the problems with current work and training provision in adult prisons and his concerns that cuts will make things worse.

Read the blog: hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/news/what-do...

Quote from Liv that reads: “I have been following PET and supporting them for some years now as I think what they do is such essential work to help those in prison (often forgotten by society) to become not only valued members of society again, but also, and perhaps more importantly, to have self-worth and self-belief again.”

Good luck to everyone running the Royal Parks Half today! We have six wonderful runners fundraising for PET.

Here’s why Liv is choosing to run for us today. You can support her efforts here: https://ow.ly/2gaw50X9egO

They claim to save London pubs. So why have they shut so many down? Linea Homes has been called the “grim reaper” of pubs. Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.

This is a terrific article on pub closures, including looking at the Trafalgar near me in Colliers Wood.

It’s so impressive what @londonermag.bsky.social, and @jim.londoncentric.media’s @londoncentric.media, are doing for London journalism.

www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...

Yes, absolutely! Couldn’t agree more. Evidence is clear on both the benefits and that investing in education is cost effective.

I've had a look at the prison education statistics for last year and there's some good news in there, albeit very modest and from a low starting point.

Hard to see how that will be sustained, though, with upcoming budget cuts about to hit provision that was already chronically underfunded.

Good to see @feweek.bsky.social covering the recent @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social report on child custody.

Young people are spending far too much time in their cell and not enough time in classrooms or doing other positive activities.

More than a third of children in custody spend less than two hours a day out of their cell during the week. More than half spend less than two hours a day out of their cell on weekends.

Young people who've already been failed by the system are being failed again.

This is great, but have they forgotten to put your name on it?

I’ve written an article for @feweek.bsky.social on why prison education matters and why budgets cuts are a mistake.

Richard's fundraiser for Prisoners' Education Trust Help Richard Farrant raise money to support Prisoners' Education Trust

A huge, huge thank you to Richard Farrant, who's currently celebrating his 80th birthday by cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End and is raising money for @prisonersed.bsky.social.

If you can contribute at all, I'm sure that'd help him on his way.

www.justgiving.com/page/richard...

Text of a statement from the Law Society calling for sustained investment across the criminal justice system.

Good to see the Law Society calling for more investment in prison education in their response to the Sentencing Bill.

www.lawsociety.org.uk/contact-or-v...

This is v.good by @cassiarowland.bsky.social on the Sentencing Bill, including the potential benefits of earned progression if it can be implemented properly if/when current pressures on the prison system subside.

Cutting prison education is a calamity Prisons across the country are slashing education funding. According to the Guardian, public money for prison education courses is being reduced by almost 50 per cent. As a result, basic English and m...

Good article by @shipleywrites.bsky.social looking at cuts to prison education budgets.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/cutt...

I see the prison population's down another 467 this week. Do you have any idea what's driving it?

(Apparently even the MoJ doesn’t know…)

No, it’s not 50% across the board. It might be close to 50% in a few but it’ll be significantly less than that in most I think. The PGA says at least 5% in most prisons. But there’s no published data so there’s no way to know for sure.

Here's the story for this: inews.co.uk/news/welder-...

It's a proposal from Make UK Defence and the Fair Chance Business Alliance for an apprenticeship scheme that would help people leaving prison into skilled jobs in the defence industry.

Prisons in England and Wales to cut spending on education courses by up to 50% Move comes despite election manifesto promises from Keir Starmer to improve ‘access to learning’

The new prison education contracts do not address current chronic underfunding, with rising costs leaving some prisons facing substantial cuts.

The government should look again at finding more funding to enable people to use their time in prison constructively.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

This is a good article on a prison-university partnership in the US.

Two-fifths of people in Wormwood Scrubs spend at least 22.5 hours per day in their cell. Just grim.

I see that Jake Richards is also joining (possibly replacing Nic Dakin?).

Good to see innovative things - in this case a workshop teaching people to build bikes out of bamboo - happening in prisons despite all the current challenges. And also good to see the value of family connections being realised.

www.ft.com/content/6ebe...

Oh well...

Will be interesting to see if there's a change at the MoJ. Lots of people seem to be tipping Shabana for a promotion but surely -surely! - it'd be sensible to leave her in place to complete the reforms she's started.

This is a really *excellent* album. Very much recommended.

These are consistently great and this one is no exception.

Policy Manager - Prisoners' Education Trust Prisoners’ Education Trust is looking for a Policy Manager to play a key role in our work at a critical time for prison education policy.

There's still time to apply for our Policy Manager role! The closing date for applications is this Monday at 5pm.

Help us influence prison education policy and improve educational experiences for people in prison. Apply here 👇