I would like to say a massive thank you to Prisoners’ Education Trust and to all those involved. I don’t think you will ever really understand how proud and privileged I have felt, ever since I received my first letter of acceptance to study Principles of Management Level 3.
Granting me the opportunity to study couldn’t have come at a better time. Prison life, as you can imagine, can be very difficult. Having the opportunity to be able to use prison time constructively, by learning and studying for an accredited course, makes it more worthwhile.
Along with being accepted by Prisoners’ Education Trust, I’ve also been very fortunate to have been given the personal use of a laptop from Coracle Inside supplied by the resettlement services within the prison. This has made completing the course much easier, enjoyable and highly useful, as it makes for a much more favourable way of writing and reading Word documents.
I don’t think you will ever really understand how proud and privileged I have felt
My personal laptop, coursework by its side, has sparked so much interest in the men here that I’ve assisted a few in completing the PET application process and they have also been successful.
It’s amazing seeing these men take whatever course they apply for very seriously. You guys are making such a positive impact on so many lives. I couldn’t praise what you guys do enough. This is what I hope to see in many prisons across the country, with more people studying and learning highly sought-after courses which can be taken and used for future prospects.
At first I was filled with self-doubt in my answers, whether or not they would be up to marking standards. Also trying not to directly lift material from the studying booklet was sometimes extremely difficult not to do.
After sending over some of my completed work to my personal tutor for marking, I received some great feedback, with some minor details that I needed to amend. So personally I know now I was thinking too hard and was being a little hard on myself, so it’s been a great learning curve.
I have gained so much confidence in the whole process – it has been amazing.
Before prison I was in a management position at a waste management company, albeit for a short while, but I can honestly say I have learnt so much more. Not only about management, how organisations actually operate, workforce planning, equality, team building, but most importantly out of it all, I’ve learnt a lot about myself.
The whole learning experience – asking prison officers to research and print off course-related material, sitting down with my personal tutor here in prison, going over any corrections and discussing elements of the course – has been really enjoyable. I have gained so much confidence in the whole process – it has been amazing.
You have given me a chance, not only to achieve a certification, but a chance to completely change my life.
I am currently still working my way through the course and hope to have it completed in the upcoming weeks. If I am successful in passing the course I am confident it will assist my ability to become a competent manager in the near future.
I suppose what I have found most interesting about this whole concept is that we have never met, you don’t know me personally or my background, the difficulties I have endured in life, or even what I have done to be in the position I’m currently in. Yet you have given me a chance, not only to achieve a certification, but a chance to completely change my life.
Whilst serving this custodial sentence, you have given me a purpose and for that I admire PET and am truly grateful.
So again, a huge thank you to you all at Prisoners’ Education Trust. From your student, David.
Help more learners like David transform their lives through education