National Book Tokens Initiative

London Probation Rewards Learning With Book Tokens

23rd August 2005

As part of a new initiative to encourage offenders to attain literacy and numeracy qualifications, London Probation is rewarding successful candidates with £20 worth of National Book Tokens.

London Probation's Skills for Life scheme provides courses for offenders supervised in the community and aims to promote life long learning. Gaining literacy and numeracy skills helps offenders get employment and research shows that this is the most effective way of reducing re-offending.

Martin Narey, Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, said: "Life long learning is a vital tool for reducing reoffending and can have a real impact on an offender's chances of securing employment. This joint scheme between London Probation and National Books Tokens' is a constructive way of giving offenders the opportunity to build on the skills they have learnt and continue their own development."

London Probation's Chief Officer David Scott comments: "For many offenders these are the first qualifications they have ever gained. We hope that receiving a National Book Token in recognition of their achievement will encourage them to continue their learning. This will contribute to the wider work that we do to help offenders turn their lives around and to make our communities safer."

Stuart Mathews, Managing Director National Book Tokens commented: "We were delighted when London Probation approached us to discuss this initiative. As National Book Tokens can be used anywhere and can only be used for books they are the ideal incentive for schemes of this nature. We support numerous initiatives which encourage literacy and life long learning and see this as very much part of that ongoing process."

Notes:

London Probation deals with offenders from first court appearances to completion of sentences. Their aim is to reduce re-offending and to protect the public.
Posters, showing a selection of book covers, encouraging ex-offenders to take part in the literacy and numeracy courses with London Probation will be displayed at probation offices throughout London.
The photo (attached) shows recent graduates of the Skills for Life Scheme with, in the centre of the photo, Max Telling, London Probation Board member, and Linda Johnson, Assistant Chief Officer for Newham.
Over £30million of National Book Token are sold each year through independent and chain booksellers.
National Book Tokens have been in existence for over 70 years. They were the first voucher scheme of their kind in the UK. The UK voucher market is now worth over £1.35 billion every year.
An image of a £10 National Book Token is attached.

For further information contact:

National Book Tokens: Alex de Berry, 020 7802 0832 or Jane Gregory, 020 7802 0833

London Probation: Elizabeth George, 020 7960 1137