The project’s aim is to increase learning success among key groups of prisoners, in order to give them a better chance of building a different future on release, and avoiding re-offending. The project will; increase support for prisoner learners by training peer mentors who will then promote learning and support specific learners; develop resources and training for prison education staff and/or other prison staff to enable them to support learners and mentors more effectively; and explore and trial new or additional forms of support identified as needs by prisoner learners. The project responds to the needs of prisoners who study by distance learning because the Prison Education department cannot provide either the level of study or the subjects or courses they need to study. Feedback from prisoners doing distance learning tells us that they frequently feel isolated in their learning. As prison education provider contracts do not include any funding for distance learning courses, and include limited support for distance learning if the prison argues hard for this and reduces other teaching hours to achieve it, distance learning has to struggle for time and resources. It is the ‘poor relation’ in prison education. Budget for 2 years Salary for project manager: 54,810 Employment and pension costs 12,017 Management charge 8,000 Travel costs and expenses 3,000 Office costs 3,000 Training events and resources 3,000 Miscellaneous 2,750 Total 86,077 Pat Jones: 22nd September 2008