Evaluation Title

An Evaluation of a Pilot Study of a Literature-Based Intervention with Women in Prison

Type of evaluation

Data type Qualitative

Evaluation Focus Attitudinal change, Emotional change, Emotional Literacy, Engagement, Participation, Personal development, Psychological change, Self-Esteem, Sense of self, Well Being

Project output Arts-based workshops

Methodologies Focus Groups, Interviews, Observation

Research limitations Pilot programme, Sample size

Summary of evaluation

This study investigated whether ‘Get Into Reading’, a literature-based intervention, which had been established in other custodial contexts and non-custodial mental health settings in the UK transposed to a female prison; HMP Low Newton, and whether any of the benefits identified in custodial and non-custodial contexts elsewhere were reported by women at Low Newton. The study was conducted through a partnership between researchers from the Centre for Research into Reading, Information and Linguistic Systems at the University of Liverpool, HMP Low Newton, Durham, and The Reader Organisation, a nationally recognised charity which promotes shared reading as a practical way to improve wellbeing, foster social inclusion and extend reading pleasure. The project was funded by the National Personality Disorder Team.

Project description

  

Key Quote

"Shared reading aloud resulted in a form of ‘disciplined relaxation’. Participating women described the reading experience as a 'bubble’ – an atmosphere of com­plete mutual absorption and concentration, offering protection both from the distraction of the environment or personal anxiety, and from self-consciousness. Participating women regarded the activity as a form of self-expression unique to the prison, and that regard was verified by the voluntariness of the women’s attendance, (‘getting something out of it without wanting something from it’ as a member of the prison staff put it). This is something participants ‘do for themselves’. Participants also reported that anticipation of the reading group was an important point of reference – keeping them going during long periods of lock-up, or offering a life-line when they were coping with too much time on their hands."


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