Two-Time Olympic Silver Medallist Helps Increase Prison Literacy

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Olympic rower shared her story in Putney to raise funds and empower prisoners to read

On Thursday 11th July SPCK hosted a public event at the London Rowing Club whic raised £1800 for its Diffusion programme for prison literacy.

Debbie Flood, two-time Olympic silver medallist in rowing, spoke about her life, her career in sport, her steps into prison ministry and why empowering prisoners to read can change their lives.


Debbie and her Olympic medals

Debbie Flood shared how she was honoured to endorse the programme: ‘The way the books are testified to be engaging the prisoners is just so valuable and important and it’s great to be able to get behind that. I’ve seen the difference that that kind of support makes,’ she said, continuing, ‘we want to help people embrace life and achieve what they are capable of achieving.’

Debbie was in conversation with Andy Frost, author of Long Story Short (published by SPCK) and Director of Share Jesus International, on what was a very enjoyable and inspirational evening, full of prayer and prosecco. Sharing her story from childhood to winning two silver medals at the Olympics to then becoming a prison officer, Debbie emphasised how literacy and faith are pivotal to finding fulfilment in life and a place in society.

This is the central message of SPCK’s Diffusion programme, which helps prisoners and young offenders to improve their literacy, a vital step in helping them to fulfil their potential both before and after leaving prison. To date, SPCK has gifted 10,000 specially-written books to organisations working with prisoners, young offenders, and people at risk of offending. Many prisoners who have a desire to read are given books by authors such a Roald Dahl and David Walliams, which although matching their literacy level leave many prisons feeling patronised and disempowered.

Instead, Diffusion books provide credible narratives for adults that are still written at the appropriate reading level for those that use them. The books, which include titles such as Space Ark by Rob Childs, Barcelona Away by Tom Palmer and Uprising by Alex Wheatle MBE, not only help to improve literacy skills and employability, but prisoners testify that they also help to change their attitudes towards reading, relationships and to themselves:
‘Not Such A Bargain is the first book I’ve read fully in over a decade. I really got into it surprisingly seeing as I haven’t managed to read a full book since primary school. Next, I would like to say thanks to you guys for providing this book to my prison… The book touched me in many different ways: [it] was very, very similar to my life and events in my life. It made me think about my own actions more and realise they were wrong, almost bought a tear to my eyes a couple of times, I would love it if you have any more books like this one or even not like this one for me to read.’ Prisoner, HMP Lewes

The importance of helping prisoners and young offenders to develop their skills was further underlined by Andy Frost. ‘SPCK plays a critical role in helping prisoners be mentored and encouraged in their learning skills so that they can be released into future prospects in their lives,’ he said. The difference being made by SPCK’s initiative had a great effect on attendees, the majority of whom reported being inspired to support Diffusion in some capacity. It also served to raise SPCK’s profile as both an inspirational publisher of Christian material and a charitable organisation.

It is not too late to donate to the Diffusion programme! Do you share our desire to promote literacy to prisoners in need? You can encourage prisoners to find fulfilment and help improve their lives. You can donate via JustGiving - www.justgiving.com/campaign/booksforprisoners or you can send a cheque payable to SPCK, 36, Causton Street, London SW1P 4ST, telling us what it is for so we can make sure it only goes to help prisoners.


ENDS
SPCK the oldest Anglican mission agency, founded in 1698 by the Revd Dr Thomas Bray, was responsible for setting up 200 charity schools in 18th and 19th centuries, before the state provided free education. Today SPCK continues this tradition by providing exciting easy-to-read books that help prisoners improve their reading skills and reflect on how they treat other people. SPCK, the Independent Publishers’ Guild Publisher of the Year 2018 and 2019, CRT’s Large Christian Publisher of the Year, is now also the largest Christian publisher in the UK.
Diffusion is a reading scheme which helps prisoners improve their literacy and employability while thinking about their relationships and how they treat other people. SPCK also has several other missional programmes which are supported by events of this kind.

July 26, 2019