Prison Reading Champions
Prison Reading Champions is a framework designed to engage both prisoners and prison staff in reading. The initiative gives prisons and prisoners the opportunity to get involved with, and receive recognition from, a national scheme.
Find out more about prison Reading Champions
Reading Champions journal
Join prison Reading Champions
How the project works
Reading Champions is a way for prisons to motivate prisoners to read more and to enjoy reading. These Reading Champions encourage others to get into reading by promoting or helping to organise activities such as reading promotions or book clubs. By following the framework prisoners are nominated for bronze, silver and gold awards, which provide recognition for their achievements and helps to keep them motivated. Staff members are also encouraged to get involved and they are also nominated and receive certificates for helping to deliver the project.
The Reading Champions framework
Reading Champions work towards three levels of achievement - bronze, silver and gold. There are suggestions for how Reading Champions could qualify based on the three levels of award below. However, to make sure the project is flexible and relevant to all prisons, the librarian or project leader needs to set up their own criteria for each level.
When the librarian or project leader feels happy that a new level has been reached by the prisoner, they then nominate them on the website detailing their reason for nomination. Within two weeks a certificate and badge will be sent out to the prison. This is a simple framework which prisoners can own and develop as they grow in confidence, with support and encouragement from staff.
Examples of activity for nomination at the different levels:
- A bronze Reading Champion stands up and declares their enthusiasm for reading: for example, writing book reviews or recommendations.
- A silver Reading Champion is involved in schemes to encourage other prisoners to read: for example, helping to organise a recommended reading display, putting up posters, making screensavers if there is a computer in the library or contributing to a prison magazine with book reviews or favourite reads.
- A gold Reading Champion makes an outstanding contribution to the reading culture across the prison: for example, setting up a reading event, book club or buddying scheme.
- A staff Reading Champion helps to build a reading culture within the prison: for example setting up a reading group.
Why the framework works
The framework draws on lessons learnt from successful boys' reading schemes and contains these key elements:
Flexibility - the project fits a variety of different types of prisons and secure units
Ownership - the men have a say in how the project is delivered
Support materials - welcome pack, journals, framework of activities, celebrity role models, posters, certificates and badges as rewards.
"I think the framework is good in that it is flexible enough to meet the needs of different types of prison and to take into account local variations in policy and practice."
Sue Wilkinson, Librarian HMP Birmingham
Reading Champions resources for prisons
Reading Champions leaflet
The downloadable Reading Champions leaflet explains how Reading Champions could be used to help create a reading culture in your prison.
Download the leaflet here (pdf)
Reading Champions journal
Each Reading Champion receives a 32 page journal which offers tips and ideas on how to champion reading and also contains blank pages to record any reading activity that takes place. The prisoner then has a record of his work to take with him through transfer and release. When you have signed your prison up to Reading Champions you will be contacted to clarify how many copies of the journal you would like.
Download the journal here (pdf)
"I like to work with others and help others to learn. By doing so, it just made me feel good in myself." Prison Reading Champion
Join prison Reading Champions
Join prison Reading Champions using our Reading Champions network maps. Once you have joined as a Reading Champion prison, you will receive a welcome pack containing ideas and strategies for implementing the framework, nominating prisoners and staff as Reading Champions and accessing useful materials and rewards. The benefits include:
- membership and recognition from a national network
- a flexible support framework
- a welcome pack sent by email and Reading Champions journals by post
- posters and signposting to relevant resources
- case studies
- nominating an unlimited number of prisoners online
Nominating Reading Champions
Once prisoners and staff have been identified as Reading Champions they can be nominated to receive certificates and recognition for their work. If you are already a member prison nominate your prisoners and staff to receive their certificates via our online nomination process.
Case studies
HMP Maghaberry
HMP Birmingham
HMP The Mount
HMP YOI Glen Parva
If you have any good ideas to share or a case study that could be added to this list please email.
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