Budget cuts for the prison service have resulted in fewer staff on the wings, reducing the amount of time prisoners can safely spend out of their cells. Budget cuts have also significantly reduced the staffing and resources available for arts classes within prison education departments. Where prisons used to provide arts materials and class room support from art tutors, this support is being lost, seen as an unnecessary extra, rather than as a vital rehabilitative tool.

PET provides advice and guidance for prisoners who wish to study art, and we fund arts materials, such as oil paints, canvases, modelling kits, felts and papers. We also provide distance learning courses from recognised bodies including the National Extension College (NEC), Open University and the Open College of the Arts (OCA) in subjects such as art history, art techniques, drawing and painting. These courses provide a progression route for individuals as they build confidence and skills.