Building Hope: The Future of Education in the Criminal Justice System
#UCLBuildingHope2024
University College London 1-19 Torrington Place WC1E 7HB
On September 20, 2024, the Centre for Education and Criminal Justice hosted a national summer conference, bringing together 120 participants to explore advancements in education within the Criminal Justice System. The event welcomed individuals with lived experience, charity leaders, local authorities, education providers, prison educators, HMPPS staff, academics, policy representatives, and practitioners. It provided a valuable opportunity for networking and collaboration, fostering progress in education provision for those in criminal justice settings.
Conference Themes: 1) Digital Learning and Provision 2) Neurodiversity 3) Embedding Literacy, Numeracy and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
By bringing together multiple stakeholders, this conference aimed to: 1) Highlight the significance of digital provision, neurodiversity and embedding literacy, numeracy and ICT in prison education and the impact that technological development, awareness, training and suitable adjustments can have in peoples’ lives. 2) Develop an ongoing forum that closes the research-to-practice gap within the fields of digital provision, neurodiversity and embedding literacy, numeracy and ICT in prison education. 3) Hear the voices of people with lived experience of the criminal justice system (CJS) and to exchange knowledge and best practice to better serve at-risk communities affected by the CJS. 4) Showcase innovative and impactful work in prison education, crime prevention and reduction, and training and employment post-prison.
Thought provoking, inspiring and has given me hope
Speakers Jon Collins, Chief Executive, Prisoners’ Education Trust Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski, Associate Lecturer in Criminology with Lived Experience Dr Victoria Knight, Associate Professor in Research, De Montfort University James Tweed, Founder and CEO, Coracle Ruth Mcfarlane and Dan Whyte, Co-Directors, Doing What Really Matters Lucy Chadwick, Neurodiversity Specialist, HMPPS Mandy Manson, Neurodiversity Support Manager, HMP High Down Michael Lockwood, Oswin Project St Giles – Eulina Clairmont, Cejo Pinto and Tyrone Morille Annick Platt, National Director of Operations Novus (LTE Group) & Director Novus Gower Maria Navarro, His Majesty’s Inspector, Specialist Adviser David Kendall, Director, Penned Up Ian Merrill, CEO, Shannon Trust José Aguiar and Helena Baptista, Teaching and Development Leads, HMP Pentonville
Panel Dr Alison Drew, St. Giles’ Trust Dr Andreas Aresti, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Westminster David Breakspear, Prison Reform Campaigner Fiona Sample, MBE, Founder and CEO, The Oswin Project Jon Collins, Chief Executive Prisoners’ Education Trust
Thank you for allowing me and my colleagues to listen to the lived experience of your learners and understand the real and numerous challenges for prison educators.
Impact As a result of the conference the ECJ have held 3 hybrid events due to the demand on themes generated from the event. The centre secured additional funding resulting from the network = £9,911.40
New partnerships: Grand Challenges (Un)equal Lives, (Un)equal Outcomes funding partnership with Justice Futures (Nina Champion), Tom Schuller, John Vorhaus and Keri Wong
We have applied for further project funding, including under the Grand Challenges Inequalities theme. We are also considering UCL HEIF/Policy funding (£10-£20K) for longer-term projects, as well as external sources of funding.
UCL Centre for Education & Criminal Justice 