News Archive

Project Officer
Write for Life Prisons Project

Academi has received funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to develop the Write for Life project in Welsh prisons.  This follows the success of a Reader in Residence scheme which ran for two years, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.  Academi will take forward the programme of workshops with visiting professional writers and further activity in the community, working with all five prisons in Wales and the Probation Service.

Literature has a long tradition of helping individuals and communities to express individual and general concerns.  Through this project, offenders will be introduced to professional writers, helping offenders with self-expression as well as developing an appreciation of literature whether through reading, writing or performing.  In particular, this project will assist offenders and their families, both during and after sentence, with the aim of reducing the numbers of offenders in Wales with literacy skills at below Level 1.

The Write for Life project is a partnership between Academi, Prison Learning and Skills Departments, Basic Skills Coordinators, Prison Libraries and Local Authorities.

To assist with the planning of the project, Academi is seeking to appoint a full-time Project Officer.  The Project Officer will be an employee of Academi and will need to be able to work from home as well as spend time working from the Academi Main Office and visiting all five prisons in Wales.  This is a fixed-term position for 13 months.  A longer term post will be subject to continuing funding.

The Project Officer will be responsible for:

• administrative support for the project
• liaising with the Prison Librarians, Prison Learning and Skills Departments, Basic Skills Coordinators and writers
• developing a programme of activity in the prisons and in the community to engage offenders and their families during and post-sentence
• visiting the prisons and monitoring activities
• ensuring that offenders enrolled on activities complete regular basic skills assessments and that improvement is recorded, with assistance from the Prison Learning and Skills Managers and Basic Skills Coordinators
• managing the project budget
• ensuring ongoing funding of the project
• reporting regularly to Academi and the Welsh Assembly Government on the progress of the project

Essential:

• ability to work effectively without supervision
• ability to work from home (PC/laptop and mobile phone will be provided by Academi)
• ability to work as part of Academi’s team, liaising with different partners
• office skills, including experience of IT programmes such as Excel and Word
• clean driving licence and own transport
• confidence in working with people in various roles and of different backgrounds

Desirable:

• experience of working in the prison environment
• knowledge of basic skills assessment procedures

SALARY

£20,000 per annum
For a 37 hour week, plus travel expenses
Fixed-term contract for 13 months

For more information on this post and the project, contact Academi: 029 2047 2266 or post@academi.org

The project is a partnership between Academi, the five prisons in Wales and their Public Library Authorities and supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Closing date for applications: Friday 13 March 2009

Interviews: Wednesday 18 March 2009

Applicants should send a CV (including two referees) and covering letter to:

Academi
Chief Executive: Peter Finch
Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5FQ
029 2047 2266
post@academi.org / www.academi.org

Academi is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government
Registered charity number: 506402