Literacy Festival at HMP Low Newton

In November, HMP Low Newton held a Literacy Festival. The main aims of the literacy festival were to promote the reading strategy prison-wide, celebrate reading, creative writing and poetry, as well as bring together readers of all levels and raise awareness of the impact that reading and writing have on wellbeing.

Literacy is an essential functional skill that everyone has the right to learn; without it, learners have a limited number of opportunities available to them. Which is why, we place a particular importance on our reading strategy, in order to engage as many learners in reading as possible.

The project was facilitated by collaborative working between Novus, HMPPS management, the Novus library, Novus and HMPPS Reading Champions, HMPPS Work Parties and the Novus Education Department. Each department worked together to bring new and innovative activities and opportunities to learners during the literacy festival and those who attended were provided with the opportunity to increase their reading engagement, whilst developing and improving their reading and writing skills. 

Partnership working to provide a literacy festival for learners

Novus initially collaborated with author Helen Aitchison, to involve HMP Low Newton in the 'Write on the Tyne' project. This has since developed into a wider partnership between Novus and HMPPS colleagues to plan a literacy festival. 

Planning for the festival first began in August, with an initial partnership meeting to decide on a theme for the festival. The theme chosen was 'Wellbeing' and the decision was informed by learner's feedback from a previous author project. 

The Novus and HMPPS Reading Champions liaised with Novus, the HMPPS management and the HMPPS Neurodiversity lead to design and plan the following activities:

• Creative writing and/or poem competition
• A vist from guest author/speaker, Helen Aitchison
• Literacy themed activities: Quizzes, word puzzles, competitions
• Low Newton's 'Best Reads': A list of available books recommended by learners

Literacy Festival to engage learners in reading

The festival took place on Thursday 27th November 2024, to further engage learners in reading. Throughout the festival, learners had the opportunity to take part in activities that helped to develop their reading and writing skills as well as develop an understanding of how reading and writing can have a positive impact on wellbeing. 

Learners also had the opportunity to listen to author Helen Aitchison, who shared her own writing journey with learners as well as increase their understanding of different forms of reading and writing. 

The literacy festival was a huge success amongst learners so much so, that a celebration event has been organised to celebrate the learner's achievements and progress. The celebration event will be held in the Education Bistro and will link in with the HoESW regular award ceremony. 

Events like this, not only provide learners the opportunity to engage in reading, but also shows them how positive outlets such as reading and writing can have a positive impact on their wellbeing. According to research conducted by the Centre for Mental Health, "nine out of ten prisoners have at least one mental health or substance misuse problem". Which is why, it's important that we host events like this, so that we can further engage learners in education, as well as provide learners with strategies and techniques that will positively impact their wellbeing as well as facilitate important discussions around mental health and wellbeing. 

To learn more about how we engage learners through enrichment events and projects, take a look at the news section.