I WAS a visitor at HMP Forest Bank on the day when the Bolton Evening News published a very damning report made by the Inspectorate about the prison.

Should like to report some very positive aspects of the prison, its inmates and its staff.

I was visiting as a local representative of The Shannon Trust - a national charity which seeks to promote literacy among the very many prisoners who have no, or few, reading skills, by means of a peer mentoring scheme whereby those inmates who can read teach those who cannot. To run the scheme needs vision and commitment from staff who, extra to their normal duties, are determined to see it work. In the library and in the education department at Forest Bank there are several such people and through their efforts, in a few months only, several new readers have emerged. One, on release, enrolled on a study course at college. Another, a traveller who had hardly been to school, looks forward on release to being able to take his wife out for a meal and to reading the menu; the difference in his self-esteem is palpable.

All of them are grateful for the opportunity to learn to read privately with a fellow inmate.

The prisoners who teach are quite remarkable in their enthusiasm and job satisfaction. There are two only at the moment because of the nature of Forest Bank as a holding prison; just as they get established, they are often moved. One, because of his capacity to speak several languages, has been very successful in helping speakers of other languages to learn to read and is keen to continue this work in the community on release. One of his students, who could not read beforehand went off, very proudly, to be enrolled on an Entry Level 2 course in the education deptartment. The change in these men is being effected by acts of generosity and commitment by all involved.

On the same afternoon I was invited to watch a pantomime which staff and inmates had put together. It was a lot of fun. I am sure the inspectors saw some things to give rise to their report, but I saw many things to celebrate.

Mrs Worsley

Bolton