Prisoners' Education Trust

Prisoners' Education Trust (PET) supports prisoners across England and Wales to gain the skills, experience and motivation to live a life free from crime. Since 1989, the charity has funded 35,000 courses and given thousands of people the opportunity to change their lives through learning. Learning in prison works: government research has found PET learners were 25% less likely to reoffend than their peers. In the last twelve months PET has funded almost 2,500 courses, helping prisoners to study subjects and levels not otherwise available in prison via distance learning and the team has provided invaluable advice to learners and staff. The charity also produces policy reports, research and promotes debate about the value of a wide variety of learning. In 2012 PET established the Prisoner Learning Alliance, which brings 23 organisations together to improve both the policy and practice related to learning in prison and beyond. In 2017, we established the PUPiL and PLAN networks, covering prison/university partnerships and academic research into prison education. Learners' voices are central to all of this work and PET works with prisons and educators to help them ensure prisoners have a role in decisions about education. We also have a thriving alumni community, made up of 50+ former learners whose direct experience and current skills to inform and improve our work and the public understanding of the value of prison education.