A Peer Advisor in our team working in HMP Huntercombe supporting foreign national prisoners has been awarded a Prisoner Learning Alliance award for his tireless work helping fellow prisoners.

Through his role as a Peer Advisor, Tien helps new prisoners – often anxious and scared – settle into the prison. This helps relieve some of the stress and tensions inherent in prison life. Tien made a special effort in helping prisoners access education and training opportunities.

The Prisoner Learning Alliance award from the Prisoner Education Trust recognises the role prisoners themselves play towards rehabilitation and resettlement of other prisoners.

Supported by The Bell Foundation, our Peer Advisor Programme in HMP Huntercombe offers specialist support to foreign national prisoners through offering vocational training to a Level 3 in Advice and Guidance. Tien – who said he was ‘really honoured’ to receive the accolade has gone one step further and qualified at Level 4. He is one of only a few Peer Advisors we have trained who has progressed to this level.