Unfinished Business With Learning

Our new scholar Ali, restarting his degree with our support this autumn, reflects on how far education has already taken him, the obstacles he has faced, and the opportunity he is now seizing. And he encourages anyone else who is, or has been, in prison to explore how education, even if you had a bad experience of it in the past, can still change your life

When I look back at my time in prison, there were many things I could have focused on. Prison can be a difficult environment and, when you are already coming from a mental health background, it can be even harder to see a positive future.

I had my own struggles to deal with and saw a psychiatrist while n prison. But alongside getting support for my mental health, I needed something else to give me direction. I needed something that would challenge me, give me purpose and help me believe that my future could be different. For me, that something was education.

I knew that getting into education in prison wouldn’t be easy. I knew there would be challenges, setbacks and days when motivation would be difficult. But I also knew that I had unfinished business with learning.

One of my biggest life-long regrets had been not finishing my degree first time round. It stayed with me for a long time. So, when the opportunity came in prison to continue my education, I decided that I wasn’t going to let my circumstances stop me again.

Education Became My Motivation

Getting into the prison classroom gave me something to look forward to. I began working towards my Foundation Year, and education quickly became an important part of my daily routine. It wasn’t simply about gaining qualifications. The classroom gave me a reason to get up, something to work towards, and an opportunity to think about who I wanted to become.

There were times when I was sitting in a dark cell and the environment around me could have easily taken over my thoughts. During those moments, keeping my mind inspired and focused was incredibly important. I found that learning gave me mental stimulation when I needed it most.

Instead of allowing my circumstances to define every thought I had, I was thinking about my next assignment, the next lesson, or what I wanted to achieve when I eventually left prison. Education gave me a future to focus on.

Becoming a Class Mentor

My commitment to education didn’t just benefit me. I began helping the teacher in the prison English class. I enjoyed being able to support others with their learning, particularly people who may have lacked confidence or who had previously struggled with education. Eventually, because of my commitment, I became a class mentor. That was something I was extremely proud of.

Being a mentor meant encouraging other prisoners to get involved in education and helping them realise that learning could be an opportunity rather than something to avoid. I would encourage people to attend classes, keep going when things became difficult, and believe that they were capable of achieving more.

Helping other people fulfil their potential became fulfilling for me. It also taught me something important: sometimes the best way to change yourself is to help someone else change too.

Looking After My Body and My Mind

Education wasn’t the only way I used my time in prison. I also decided to focus on my physical health and fitness. I trained regularly. For me, there was a clear connection between physical and mental well-being. I strongly believe that a healthy body supports a healthy mind.

Training gave me another positive focus. It helped me develop discipline and routine, and it gave me a constructive way to manage my energy and emotions.

Between education, mentoring and fitness, I started to build a structure around myself. These things became positive habits that helped me get through difficult days. Prison could still be challenging, but I was no longer simply waiting for my time to pass. I was using my time to invest in myself.

Discovering the Longford Scholarships

One of the most important moments in my journey happened when I came across a brochure in prison from DWRM about the Longford Scholarships programme. Something clicked immediately.

I read about the opportunity to continue into higher education, and I knew this was something, because of that lifelong regret I had carried about not finishing my degree, that I had to explore. Here was an opportunity to change that. I was being presented with the possibility of going back to university. For the first time in a long time, the idea of finishing what I had started didn’t feel like a dream. It felt possible.

Taking the First Step

I reached out and contacted DWRM and their support made a huge difference. When you’re trying to change your life, taking the first step can sometimes be the hardest part. You might not know who to speak to, what opportunities are available, or whether you are even good enough to achieve what you’re aiming for. Having people who are willing to listen, guide you and help you navigate the process can make all the difference.

I kept going. And eventually, I received the news that I had been accepted as a Longford Scholar and had secured my university place at the University of Westminster. It was a huge moment for me.

From Prison Education to Higher Education

Being accepted as a Longford Scholar means much more to me than simply having a university place. It represents the opportunity to finish something I once thought I might never complete. It represents the power of education in prison. It represents rehabilitation.

And, most importantly, it represents a second chance. My experience has shown me that education can change the way you see yourself. When you start achieving things that you once thought were beyond you, your whole outlook can change.

You stop seeing yourself only through the mistakes you have made.

You start seeing yourself through what you can achieve.

That change in mindset is incredibly powerful.

Why Education in Prison Matters

I believe strongly that prison education should be seen as an opportunity for rehabilitation and personal development. Education doesn’t magically solve every problem. There are still challenges to face, and changing your life requires effort and commitment.

But education can give someone a reason to believe in themselves. It can provide structure. It can develop confidence. It can open doors.

And it can help someone imagine a life beyond the circumstances they are currently experiencing. For me, the classroom became one of the places where I could see a different version of my future.

I went into prison with challenges relating to my mental health and with regrets about my unfinished education. During my sentence, I discovered that I could use my time constructively. I became a learner. Then I became a mentor. Now I am becoming a university student. That progression means everything to me.

Changing Your Life Starts With One Decision

If you are reading this in prison, or have recently left prison, I want you to know that your current situation does not have to define the rest of your life.

You may have made mistakes. You may have regrets. You may feel that opportunities have passed you by. I understand that feeling.

But I also know what it is like to discover an opportunity that makes you think: ‘maybe I can actually do this’. For me, that opportunity was education. You don’t necessarily have to know exactly where your journey will end. Sometimes you just need to take the next positive step.

My Message to Anyone Thinking About Education

If you are in prison and thinking about education, my advice is simple: Go for it.

Don’t convince yourself that it’s too late.

Don’t tell yourself that you’re not capable.

Don’t allow your past to decide your future.

Get into the classroom. Ask questions. Speak to the education staff. Find out what opportunities are available to you.

And if higher education is something you want to pursue, look into the opportunities available through organisations that support people with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

You might be surprised by what is possible.

I know I was.

 

If you want to find out more about Longford Scholarships, speak to the education team in your prison or contact Clare Lewis