The following,
details are in the District Directory, will provide information
to interested Rotarians:
1. Visits and literacy work: Dean Sherriff, sherriffhome@aol.com
2. Mentoring work: David Orchard, nwcp@btinternet.com or Mike Madeley
3. Job applications and mock interviews: Mike Madeley
4. The workshop initiative: David Acton, acton.acton@btconnect.com
Some clubs are organising essay competitions with local
schools, or are engaged in reading, mock interview or mentoring
initiatives with young people. Others are keeping contact
with their ‘Kidsout’ schools to see if they can
support literacy work with some of the youngsters. One club
contacted and worked with their local authority who were
removing outdated English, geography and history reference
books from a teachers’ library. As a result 700 high
quality books have been sent to support work in African schools.
It is worth checking to see if groups exist within a club’s
area which support adult literacy. Many rely on sponsorship
or volunteer support to provide facilities to help those
who, through illness or learning difficulty of disability,
find communication difficult, with all the consequences which
that brings. Such a link has resulted in one Rotary club
member becoming chairman of such a group, and using his business
expertise and contacts to generate funds for the group, who
were in danger of having to close because a Lottery grant
was ending.
The link between poor literacy levels and prison inmates
is stunning and stark. The District 1280 Prison Project
begins on Thursday, August 17th when a group of representative
Rotarians meet with staff at HMP Buckley Hall to plan projects
and a timescale. It is hoped that some adult literacy support
work and mock interviews can be under way well before Christmas,
the idea being to begin in small (and hopefully successful!)
way, and then expand as opposed to being over-ambitious
too early on. The views of the prison authorities, and
prisoners, are crucial. The project must have value and
credibility for all concerned.
The present thinking is
to look at the following:
• Mock interviews, using CVs and application forms.
• Literacy support and advice.
• Mentoring both before release and after (thus face to face
or via phone through Buckley Hall after release) re such
issues as registering with GPs, on housing lists, dealing
with Social Services, trying to get work etc). NB This
will require training and links have been made with an
organisation who could provide it.
• Visits to Buckley Hall by interested members in clubs (maximum
12 per visit?).These would be intended to increase awareness
and stimulate interest, hopefully increasing the potential
number of volunteers/possible work opportunities.
• Seeking companies willing to provide meaningful sub-contract
work or work placements5.
•
A ‘Song and Dance’ night of entertainment for
inmates. |
