PET has worked in prisons for over 30 years, beginning in HMP Wandsworth in 1989 and expanding to support people in every prison in England and Wales.
Some charities are started around a kitchen table, others in university dorms. But Prisoners’ Education Trust must be unique – its origins can be traced back to a train journey.
In the late 1980s, prison education officer David Burton and barrister Vernon Cocking commuted together from HMP Wandsworth, still Western Europe’s largest prison. On that journey they discussed how education in prison could be better funded. As today, prisons’ budgets were limited. The demand was great. David and Vernon saw people prevented from reaching their full potential because of a lack of learning opportunities.
So the pair hit upon an idea: an organisation that would offer people in prison the chance to study distance learning qualifications, doing the same courses as their peers in the community.
Wisely, the name they chose Educare de Profundis – Latin for “Education from out of the depths” – was reconsidered, and on 19 April 1989 Prisoners’ Education Trust was officially formed – chaired by Lady Elizabeth Andrew, who passed away in 2018 after nearly 30 years of helping transform the charity’s reach and impact.
Our history in the nineties
By the early nineties, Prisoners’ Education Trust, had extended its reach to 19 prisons. In 1992, members of the public gave £165 to help individuals studying in prison – compare that to the amazing £46,939 supporters gave over just one week, during 2025’s Big Give campaign.
The vast majority of PET’s work was supported by trusts and foundations. This support meant PET could fund a wide range of courses. By wide we mean wide.
One learner applied to study a Zulu course, because he hoped to work in the building industry in South Africa. Another was funded for a Tanker course and was given day release to drive for a local firm. Others were funded for Seamanship, Pig Business Management, and Oil-Well Production Technology.
And behind each one of these awards, is a story.
2003: a landmark year
2003 was a landmark year for the charity. 14 years on from our foundation, we now offered distance learning in every prison in England and Wales and made over 1000 awards for the first time.
It’s also the year that we started to offer Open University courses, which still form a core part of PET’s offer to people in prison – with Open University Access Modules providing the perfect introduction to university-level study.
This growth wouldn’t have been possible without the brilliant support of prison staff and governors.
Championing prison education
As it’s grown, PET has been able to join up some of the brilliant work going on across the criminal justice system and use its expert voice to champion prison education.
In 2008 it began its first policy project, welcoming a permanent policy team two years later. In 2012, the then Head of Policy Nina Champion and chair Alexandra Marks established the Prisoner Learning Alliance, a network of organisations and individuals working together to improve prison education. One of the highlights of the prison education calendar was the annual PLA awards, which recognised outstanding prison educators, all of whom are nominated by people in prison.
The PLA did vital work, improving understanding of the benefits of prison education. Its publication The Theory of Change, sought to answer the question: “What is prison education for?” The response is now mirrored – almost word-for-word – in the governments’ own definition of prison education.
Learners: at the heart of what we do
Collaboration has been the key to what PET has achieved. As well as the PLA, PET set up the PLAN network to work with academics researching prison education and the PUPiL network to support prison-university partnerships. In 2014, we launched our Alumni Network, a community of PET alumni who are passionate about education.
At PET, our learners are at the heart of what we do. Their expertise and experience help us grow and develop as an organisation. Not only are PET’s alumni changing minds by sharing their story and expertise, but they’re also shaping PET’s future through our Advisory Group.
50,000 educational awards
By December 1989, we had helped 12 people in prison embark on distance learning courses. In August 2025, we were thrilled to have made 50,000 educational awards.
But we don’t want to stop there. We want to fund more learners and make a bigger difference to the people we support.
Donate here to help us do it. You can also sign up to our email newsletter.
