"The good days are amazing", an evaluation of the Writer's in Prison Network

The Writers in Prison Network (WIPN) was established and appointed by the Arts Council in April 1998 to administer the Writers in Residence in Prison Scheme. The Scheme places writers and creative artists into prisons across the UK to deliver creative writing, drama, video, music, oral storytelling, journalism, creative reading and publishing programmes. The Scheme employs writers who are experienced or established in particular literary fields; many have been creative writing tutors, or have worked in publishing, the theatre, television, radio or journalism. In administering the Scheme, WIPN supports up to 20 Writers in Residence at any one time (with an average of 15-16 residencies per year and a maximum of 22 residencies per year undertaken during the lifetime of WIPN). In 2010 the Hallam Centre for Community Justice at Sheffield Hallam University was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the Writers in Prison Network. The evaluation was primarily qualitative in approach which aimed to inform and support the future development of WIPN.