- a partnership between Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Prison Service and Carnegie College

• Fixed term appointment to end of March 2009 - 3 days per week

• Fee: £12,730.80 per annum for 3 days per week (paid in monthly instalments)
  

Background

HMP Glenochil is near Tullibody in Clackmannanshire and holds long-term adult male prisoners with High, Medium and Low supervision security classifications. The prison has an average population of 720 men. Given the long term incarceration and serious nature of offences, staff are continually challenged by the range of prisoner needs and expectations. HMP Glenochil provides a range of opportunities for work and education which are delivered within the establishment by Carnegie College however access to the arts has traditionally been low. Many prisoners also have difficulties with accessing education due to poor communication skills and literacy levels, and low self-esteem around these areas.

Since 2006 Scottish Book Trust, the Scottish Prison Service and Carnegie College have collaborated on a writer residency based in the Learning Centre at HMP Glenochil. The residency has demonstrated the positive impact of books and creative writing on prisoners' self esteem and skills. It has also encouraged prisoners to consider other ways of developing their skills through the Learning Centre.

Project aims

• To offer the prison community opportunities to participate in creative projects based around the development of creative writing, reading and oral/dramatic skills
• To work closely with and act as an alternative route to the library and Learning Centre at HMP Glenochil
• To increase prisoners' self esteem and encourage them to consider and improve the wellbeing and health of their community
• To generate awareness amongst prisoners of the written and spoken word as a valid means of communication and self-articulation
• To encourage reluctant learners to develop reading and writing skills
• To make prisoners aware of the importance of reading and writing with regards to their children's education
• To encourage and empower the prison community to continue the development of the projects and activities out with the period of the residency

Responsibilities of the post

The writer will be responsible for researching ideas and developing projects and new work in collaboration with the prison community. However we anticipate activities will include:

• Creative writing groups and projects for prisoners and staff leading to new work and the production of publications or performances (to complement existing creative writing classes delivered by Carnegie College)
• Programming regular events by visiting writers/artists
• Contributing to the prison magazine
• Supporting the development of Storybook Dads - a project which enables prisoners to record stories (either from books or those they have written themselves) on to CD, with added sound and voice effects and a personal message, to be sent home to their children and families.

Outcomes and targets will be agreed in consultation with the successful writer and the project partners.

Scottish Book Trust, Carnegie College and the Scottish Prison Service have commissioned an independent evaluation of the residency and the writer will be expected to participate in this through recording information on their activities and meeting with the evaluator. He/she may also be required to make presentations both within the prison and to other groups such as other Scottish Prison Service establishments or writers.

Person specification

HMP Glenochil is a unique and demanding environment and the role of writer in residence is both challenging and fulfilling. We're looking for a professional, practising writer with an aptitude for working in community settings and a proactive, collaborative approach that will engage a wide range of prisoners.

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven literary ability demonstrated by publication/performance history
• Experience in delivering workshops to community groups and creating tangible outcomes e.g. publications, performances within short timescales
• An understanding of structured learning environments
• The ability to talk about their work and experiences to groups of varying sizes and backgrounds
• Sensitivity to the special demands of working in a prison and a realistic awareness of the diverse needs and challenges that this will represent
• The capacity to act as an advocate for the value and benefits of writing, reading, oral and dramatic creativity to the prison community
• The ability to work strategically and operationally with Carnegie College and the library service at HMP Glenochil
• The ability to self-support administratively

Terms and conditions

The fee for the residency is £12,730.80 per annum for 3 days per week which will be paid in monthly instalments in arrears. Out of pocket expenses will be paid in addition. This does not cover travel expenses to and from home and HMP Glenochil. This post is offered on a freelance basis.

The writer will be based at HMP Glenochil near Tullibody in Clackmannanshire. He/she will work from the Learning Centre and will have access to its resources. The writer will also have the opportunity to access Scottish Book Trust Live Literature funding for events/workshops visiting writers and a project budget.

The contract period is fixed term until the end of March 2009. The writer will be required to work for 3 days per week. Exact days will be negotiated with the project partners.

The writer will be line managed on a day to day basis by the Learning Centre Manager at HMP Glenochil and will report to a steering group comprising representatives of Scottish Book Trust, Carnegie College, Scottish Prison Service, HMP Glenochil and Learning Connections. The writer will attend all steering group meetings and provide written and/or verbal reports.

The writer will be expected to take part in a formal induction at HMP Glenochil which will cover (but not be limited to) health and safety within the prison environment.

Appointment will be conditional on securing an Enhanced Disclosure.

Applications

Please apply in writing to:

Sophy Dale, Head of Programme
Scottish Book Trust
Sandeman House
Trunk's Close
55 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1SR

Your application should include:

• A letter outlining how you meet the Person Specification and why you want to be writer in residence at HMP Glenochil
• An outline of some initial ideas on how you would fulfil the project aims
• A CV (including your publication/performance history and your experience of working in community settings)
• A sample of your work - a maximum of 1500 words
• Contact details for two referees - one of whom must be from a community project

Contact Sophy Dale on 0131 524 0176 or sophy.dale@scottishbooktrust.com with any queries

The deadline for applications is Monday 19th May.

Interviews will take place during the first week in June at HMP Glenochil.