Writers in Prison

Many of the men and women in Scottish prisons have poor communication skills and literacy levels. This often means they don't access learning opportunities within prison and may lose touch with family and friends due to a lack of confidence around letter writing and self expression. They also have limited access to books and writing opportunities which could help address the inevitable isolation of a prison sentence.

Scottish Book Trust is working with the Scottish Prison Service, Carnegie College and Motherwell College to try and change this through a programme of writers and readers in residence in prisons across Scotland. We currently manage a residency at HMP Glenochil and support a writer in residence at HMP Edinburgh and readers in residence at HMPYOI Cornton Vale, HMPYOI Polmont and HMP Perth and are working towards a writer residency in every Scottish prison.

HMP Glenochil

HMP Glenochil is in Clackmannanshire and holds male prisoners serving long term sentences.

Deborah Nicholson is Writer in Residence at HMP Glenochil. Her background in book publishing and journalism is bringing a different approach to creativity and literacy in the prison. Deborah is working with lively creative writing and book groups on short stories, poetry, storytelling, Scottish literature and drama and is gathering material for a new prisoners’ magazine at Glenochil. She also aims to expand the already successful Storybook Dads project and is promoting library use.

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Read an article on the Prison Writers scheme from The Herald Magazine (March 2008) by Michael Tierney  (photograph by Simon Murphy):

Download Page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, page5
www.heraldscotland.com