The Book Dragon comes to HMP Wealstun

In the UK, 57% of prisoners read below the level expected of an 11-year-old, showcasing the importance of reading education in prisons. Addressing reoffending is nearly impossible without raising literacy levels and ensuring learners are gaining the relevant skills and qualifications necessary.

Being able to read is a fundamental skill all learners should have access to, which is why at Novus, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to engage learners in our reading provision.

The Book Dragon

To kickstart the 2024 reading provision, HMP Wealstun received a visit from author and founder of the ‘Book dragon’ Kirsty McKay. The visit was organised by Nicky Ireland, Library Manager Yorkshire, and Phillipa Young, HMP Wealstun Learning and Skills Manager who collaborated with the author.

The Book Dragon, founded by Kirsty is a book shop dedicated to independent authors. After self-publishing her own book “The veils of Valoria”, Kirsty noticed the lack of support and promotion for self-published authors so created the Book Dragon community to support them and promote their books.

During her talk, Kirsty provided an insightful overview of the complexities of, and dedication required to becoming an author to 16 learners and staff.  Kirsty also provided insight from her own life’s journey and experiences, her passion since the age of 5 and penning together her dreams, ideas, visions, concepts, and scribbles which saw her first debut novel published in November 2019, “The veils of Valoria”.  

The visit was received well, and the level of participation was fantastic, with learners responding to activities and posing well-considered questions to the author.

Through collaboration and partnerships, we are able to offer more opportunities for learners to engage with education.  If you’d like to learn more or if you are interested in working with us, contact us here.