Nearly half a million books are set to be distributed across prisons in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland this autumn. The campaign is supported by bestselling thriller writer Lee Child, who is the UK's first prison reading laureate.
The initiative, delivered by the Reading Agency charity as part of its Quick Reads programme, will see 11 short books distributed. Titles were selected with input from both prisoners and staff. A book will be sent to every cell across the prison estate, with additional stock for prison libraries.
Child stated the initiative aims to address the "revolving door" of reoffending. He suggested that improving literacy could help individuals find jobs and manage everyday tasks after release, potentially reducing returns to custody.
Ministry of Justice statistics for 2024-25 indicate that 65% of initial assessment results in public prisons in England were below the standard expected of a typical GCSE student.
The Quick Reads collection includes crime and thrillers, memoir, wellbeing, and a creative writing guide. Authors featured include Lee Child, Leye Adenle, AA Dhand, Lemn Sissay, Andy McNab, and Dr Alex George.
The Reading Agency will also organise author-led workshops, creative writing activities, and resources for prison libraries and education teams. The Henry Smith Foundation, a poverty-focused non-profit, funds the initiative.