Our history

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PET has a 30-year history working in prisons, beginning in HMP Wandsworth in 1989 and expanding to cover every prison in England and Wales.

1989 - PET is founded by a prison education officer and a barrister. The charity initially works in HMP Wandsworth.
1993 - Courses this year include Seamanship, Pig Business Management, and Oil-Well Production Technology.
1994 - PET gives out its first Allt award, set up in memory of probation officer John Allt to help people find work and start businesses after prison.
1999 - In our tenth anniversary year, PET makes 673 awards to people in prison, across 61 different prisons.
2003 - 14 years on from its foundation, PET now offers education awards in every prison in England and Wales.
2005 - Our 10,000th educational award goes to a learner at HMP Wandsworth studying Japanese gardening.
2010 - As PET turns 21, we make our 20,000th award. It goes to a learner at HMP Wandsworth where the charity began.
2012 - The PLA, a network of organisations and individuals working together to improve prison education, is founded.
2014 - We launch our Alumni Network, a community of former learners using their experience and expertise to influence change.
2016 - The PLA publishes its Theory of Change, exploring the value of learning in prison.
2017 - We set up the PUPiL network to help promote prison-university partnerships.
2018 - PET makes its 40,000th award - this year sees our first awards for Latin for Beginners, Pre and Postnatal Exercise and Zoo Keeping.
2019 - With the help of alumni, staff and trustees, PET launches its new logo and website for its 30th anniversary.
1989 - PET is founded by a prison education officer and a barrister. The charity initially works in HMP Wandsworth.
1993 - Courses this year include Seamanship, Pig Business Management, and Oil-Well Production Technology.
1994 - PET gives out its first Allt award, set up in memory of probation officer John Allt to help people find work and start businesses after prison.
1999 - In our tenth anniversary year, PET makes 673 awards to people in prison, across 61 different prisons.
2003 - 14 years on from its foundation, PET now offers education awards in every prison in England and Wales.
2005 - Our 10,000th educational award goes to a learner at HMP Wandsworth studying Japanese gardening.
2010 - As PET turns 21, we make our 20,000th award. It goes to a learner at HMP Wandsworth where the charity began.
2012 - The PLA, a network of organisations and individuals working together to improve prison education, is founded.
2014 - We launch our Alumni Network, a community of former learners using their experience and expertise to influence change.
2016 - The PLA publishes its Theory of Change, exploring the value of learning in prison.
2017 - We set up the PUPiL network to help promote prison-university partnerships.
2018 - PET makes its 40,000th award - this year sees our first awards for Latin for Beginners, Pre and Postnatal Exercise and Zoo Keeping.
2019 - With the help of alumni, staff and trustees, PET launches its new logo and website for its 30th anniversary.

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