Raising Your Game is working with Listening Books to bring reading to ex-offenders

Listening Books is a charity that supplies audiobooks to people who find it difficult to read due to illness or disability. It has over 23,000 members in the UK and over 7,000 audiobooks in its library – including fiction and educational titles.

The charity has received funding to offer the service for free to ex-offenders who struggle to read. Listening Books and Raising Your Game will work together to target the people who can benefit most.

Raising Your Game’s film on preparing for a court appearance is popular among youth offending organisations

‘Getting ready for court’ aims to help young people with a learning disability or communication difficulty, and professionals working with them, understand their rights and the procedures in the complex court system. It uses the voices of young people to explain what others will face.

Since its launch in June, the film has proved an invaluable resource for professionals in supporting young people. It has been most popular with young offender institutions and youth offending teams, which make up nearly a quarter of those who have requested the film, so far. Offender health organisations and local government services have also shown significant interest.

“The ‘Getting ready for court’ DVD is an excellent resource for young people and their families about what to expect when going to court,” says Alan Haines, youth offending service officer at the Kent Youth Offending Service. “It provides some superb pointers on how to prepare and, as the advice comes from other young people, it is much more likely to be received with credibility.”

To watch the film, go to http://raisingyourgame.mencap.org.uk/getting-ready-for-court-film