Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) has appointed three new trustees, including a former prison governor, a general further education college vice principal, and the founder of a challenge which has raised over £100,000 to support a range of charities.
Judith Feline joined the Prison Service in 2009, having previously worked in local government and the third sector. She worked in five prisons, in various roles, before becoming Governing Governor of HMP Maidstone and seeing first-hand the positive change that the opportunity to learn new skills can make for people in prison. She retires from the Prison Service in April 2022 ahead of joining the PET board.
Ken Merry is currently the vice principal for quality at Barnsley College, a general further education college in South Yorkshire. Prior to this role he was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors for Ofsted and inspected a wide range of providers including the education provision in prisons. During these inspections he developed his interest in ensuring that the most vulnerable people in our society have access to high quality learning opportunities.
Lewis Owens has worked in education for over 20 years. He is a trustee of the Autism Centre of Excellence at Cambridge; advisor for Hostage International; and a board member of Time-Matters UK, supporting children who have a parent in prison. In 2018 he set up his St Martin’s Challenge which has raised over £100,000 assisting vulnerable people on the margins. As part of this Challenge, in 2018 Lewis ran 100 miles from Ruislip to Canterbury in aid of PET.
Judith, Ken and Lewis will be joining the PET board in April 2022.
Jon Collins, PET Chief Executive, said:
I am delighted that Judith, Ken and Lewis are joining PET’s Board of Trustees. They will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to PET and I am looking forward to working with them in the coming months and years. This is an important time for PET as we implement our new organisational strategy and these new appointments will help to ensure that the Board continues to provide us with invaluable advice and insight as PET develops and grows.
Elisabeth Davies, chair of PET, said:
As we move into a new post-COVID environment, PET needs a committed, skilled and sensitive Board more than ever. With Judith, Ken and Lewis joining an already excellent Board, I’m confident that we can continue to help the organisation to deliver the support prisoners need to transform their lives through learning.
About Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET):
At PET, we believe that education has the power to change the lives of people in prison, and that everyone should have the chance to study while there.
Working with prisons across England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, we fund courses in levels and subjects that are otherwise unavailable; support people to choose courses and progress with their learning; and champion the life-changing power of education to prisons, policymakers and the public.
We offer over 120 different distance learning courses, from business start-up to creative writing, GCSEs and A-levels, and Open University Access modules. We help around 1,300 people each year to start their studies, equipping them with the skills and qualifications to build brighter futures.
For further information about PET, please contact Calum Walker, Media and Communications Manager, on 07824 189661 or email calum@prisonerseducation.org.uk.