Give a Book promotes books and reading in the hardest places. We work in prisons and with disadvantaged children. Our core belief is that to pass on a good read – to give a book – is a transaction of lasting worth. Our prison reading groups promote connection and change.
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Most prisoners will serve their sentence and return to the community. Loss of liberty is punishment, but rehabilitation is an essential role for prisons if the significant social and economic costs of reoffending are to be reduced. Half of all prisoners have a literacy level of a child leaving primary school (Shannon Trust) and their poor literacy skills leave them locked out of the job market and struggling to participate fully in society.
PRG sets up and supports reading groups in prisons UK wide. Where possible these are run by volunteers with prison librarians who we recruit, train and support. Attendance is voluntary and the choice of book is made by the prisoners, either through consensus or a vote. The choices are wide ranging and many are ambitious. Each member has their own copy of the book to read in their own time between the meetings. The meetings are informal and aim to develop discussion skills and sociability.
