West

It’s hoped that "Write to Freedom" could help reduce the number of young offenders who end up back in jail.

At the moment around 80% are back behind bars within two years.

Encouraging young offenders to write

"Write to Freedom" encourages young offenders to write memoirs and through these to reflect on what they’ve done in the past.

Then, after they’re released to continue to use writing memoirs as a means of social and personal development.

Caspar Walsh explains how he came up with the idea for the project which is running at Ashfield Young Offenders' Institution in South Gloucestershire.

Caspar writes…

"Write to Freedom" came to me as a concept after many years of teaching inside and outside UK prisons.

Caspar Walsh

In May 2007 I was approached by the Head of English at Ashfield Young Offenders' Institution, Marcel Celtel, to run a project of my choice based on my book "Criminal" - a memoir of my life as a young prisoner.

When this kind of opportunity presents itself I usually hesitate before I take what always proves to be a bold step.

Piloting this part of the project at Ashfield has been challenging, frustrating and rewarding.

Ultimately it has cemented my long term commitment to provide an accessible, engaging educational programme to prisons throughout the country.

What we offer is personal and professional development through the written and spoken word.

Working outside prison, post release, is the real testing ground for any prison project and is dependent on individual motivation to break the cycle of re offending.

Ginge is the first young man from "Write to Freedom" to make it home.

He is showing really positive signs of having learnt from his mistakes, he’s continued writing and has recently had his work published through my blog on The Guardian website.

'Ginge' - showing positive signs

Amazing progress!

"Write to Freedom" in prisons is a body of work I’m leaving behind as a positive legacy of my time inside.

It’s a sign of gratitude for the incredible learning my prison experience has given me.

I offer a light of hope when all other lights may have gone out.