The report explores the impact of a creative writing programme developed to engage ‘hard to reach’ learners in prison. The mechanism was a creative writing competition, incorporating a schedule of workshops in 28 prisons, encouraging entrants to write pieces for broadcast on National Prison Radio (NPR). Using qualitative and quantitative data, the report established a link between the participants’ positive experiences of attending workshops and entering the competition with factors that influence desistance. In addition, the report explored how to support artists new to working in prison and offered a framework for building a network to promote high quality arts interventions in the criminal justice system.

"Creative writing workshops can offer a pathway into engagement with more formal learning opportunities. The opportunity to engage was taken up in the Write to be Heard workshops by not only the experienced writers but also those participants considered ‘Hard to reach’."