NIANRO Consulting - The Career Experiences of Black Prison Educators

Background

Prison education is often neglected as an area of examination within education policy and criminal justice processes despite the advantages it offers prisoners in developing new skills, broadening their subject knowledge and in supporting their well-being. Prison education, and those who deliver it, is often impacted by the stressors and strictures of the wider prison environment. Indicative accounts from a small group of Black prison educators suggested that their experiences are further compounded by race and intersections of religion and gender but there is little known about this particular group.

Project

I worked as the Research Lead alongside Professor Nicola Rollock and a team of researchers to examine the career experiences of Black prison educators. I conducted qualitative research through one-to-one semi-structured interviews and the design and distribution of the survey as part of our data collection.

Result

This unique research revealed the considerations and challenges of this specific demographic of prison educators including their motivations for joining the profession and the important relationships formed with learners but also the poor and unsafe working conditions they work in. The report was launched at a parliamentary event with MPs and prison educators in attendance.