Letter from Tom Schuller, Chair of the PLA Steering Committee, regarding the closure of the network.
You will remember that, earlier this year, I published a letter regarding the future of the network. I outlined that PET had taken the difficult decision to end its financial support of the PLA, and consequently the PLA Steering Committee had begun exploring options to transfer the PLA’s functions to a suitable fellow organisation.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, and the efforts of those who got in touch, we have not been able to find an alternative host. This means that the PLA will close at the end of 2023.
Our focus between now and the end of the year will be winding down the network. Part of this will include our celebration of the Prisoner Learning Alliance event on 6 December, 4:00-6:00pm. We hope that you will join us. Further details can be found below.
On a more positive note, I am pleased to say that the UCL Centre for Education and Criminal Justice (where our Steering Committee member John Vorhaus works) has been given an internal grant to enable the consolidation and building of networks relating to prison education. So at least one PLA function will carry on in some form.
Should you wish to get in touch with me, you can do so at tomschuller48@gmail.com, copying in cassie@prisonerseducation.org.uk.
Tom Schuller
Chair of the PLA Steering Committee
Join us on 6 December, 4:00-6:00pm to reflect on the Prisoner Learning Alliance’s lasting impact on prison education policy and practice.
We will meet as members of the PLA for one last time, and learn how to access the resources we have created together, beyond our closure at the end of the year.