Finding a new love of learning.
For a young man brought up in a deprived part of Liverpool with limited opportunities and little education, George discovered a new passion for education within prison. Thanks to his Coracle laptop, he can access over 200 courses and he has already completed most of the AIM Qualifications on the device.
George confesses that he was never a great student and was often written off at school. He didn’t know that he had such an appetite for learning. That’s why this incredible enthusiasm for his work has come as a surprise to him as much as his Learning & Skills Manager, who has never seen so many certificates from a single learner in the prison.
George is a great example of learning leading to more learning. His Coracle Site Support Worker recalls that when he was given his Coracle laptop, he thought he would mainly use it for games and entertainment. But as soon as he was shown the wealth of content he could access offline, it seemed to trigger something. Now, he proudly shows off a file full of certificates from the courses he’s completed, including CV writing, business studies, and alcohol awareness.
With the right encouragement and nurturing, George has discovered that learning can bring new skills but also an enormous sense of satisfaction. He was “overjoyed” when he heard that the quantity of his work was better than any other learner and, according to his Coracle Site Support Worker, it really “made his day”.
George is not stopping there. Despite his transfer to a new prison, he seems more determined than ever to use his time in prison to educate himself. And with this new knowledge and skills, the hope is that it will lead to more positive behaviours both inside and outside of prison.
Not his real name, image for illustrative purposes only.
