We are delighted to announce that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe will present PET’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal, which airs on Sunday 12 May at 7.54am and 9.25pm.
Nazanin – who was imprisoned in Iran for over five years – will share the story of Paul, an alumnus of PET who, like her, found hope through learning while in prison.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive a reminder
Paul left school at fifteen with no qualifications. When in prison, he applied for an art course through PET – the start of his journey to gaining a Masters in Fine Art.
Education has made me rethink my whole outlook on life. And for that I’ve got to be grateful.
Paul is now a professional artist, alongside his work as a housing management assistant at a charity. He also draws on his experience to help others in prison by working with PET as a Lived Experience Consultant.
Paul’s sculpture of an athlete on a starting block stands outside Middlesborough College. He says it “represents college as the start of another part of the learner’s life”.
Make sure you tune into our BBC Radio 4 Appeal on Sunday 12 May to hear about the impact education had on Paul’s life.
Every donation will help someone like Paul leave prison with a qualification and hope for the future. Plus, to double the impact, your donations will be matched up to £10,000, thanks to a generous trust.
PET’s Head of Fundraising and External Affairs Cassie Edmiston said:
With Nazanin’s wonderful support and the power of Paul’s story, our BBC Radio 4 Appeal will show the importance of education in prison and the hope it brings to so many. With the help of Radio 4 listeners, we will be able to support more learners like Paul to start again.
To donate to the Appeal, just call 0800 404 8144 between Sunday 12 May and Saturday 18 May, or you can write a cheque to Prisoners’ Education Trust and send it to: Prisoners’ Education Trust, The Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London SE11 5RR
We hope you will listen in to the Appeal, share and support if you can.